Running a small engine on household biogas using "brickage' for gas pressure 2

In this video we demonstrate our successful trial using 4 and 6 bricks as the source of weight to create the pressure to fuel our converted two stroke engine/generator to run on biogas made from kitchen wastes. We also experiment with other ways of introducing lubrication oil into the engine. We are pleased to report that a weight of about 24 kilograms (about what an airplane allows you to carry in your luggage, so think a suitcase worth of weight) is enough to keep the generator running. Thus there is no need for any kind of pump or compressor such as we showed in the last video. That simplifies things a lot and makes home biogas electric generation more and more affordable and useful.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Biogas
• biofuels
• small engine conversion
• Solar CITIES
• T.H. Culhane
• bio-methane

[dnndirty74]

why do you have the regulator? its not like you have high pressure.

try with out the regulator.

[tculhane]

@dnndirty74 You are absolutely right, we don't need the regulator. In our trials in Egypt a couple of months ago we bypassed it completely. We keep it on the engine here in Germany and in Cairo in case we want to switch to an NG or propane cylinder, but don't need it at all for the biogas. Since it came with the kit from US Carburetion for trifuel use I just assumed we needed it at first, then discovered, nope, no need at all! Thanks for bringing that to the attention of those who may b watching

[Trappokolo]

I am still in love with your efforts in this channel, I see you just came back from Nigeria( quite a heck of a place to preach sustainability and environmental safety) yes I think I can say that because I am a Nigerian/German . in 5 days I will be starting similar awareness projects in Nigeria and would like to keep in touch with you. Thanks in advance

[tculhane]

@Trappokolo Thanks for the kind words! I hope you will join us in our efforts (along with H.E. Obasanjo and friends in Abeokuta) to create a "Green Economy Center for R and D and Education at the presidential library and to create a green collar job training program for Africans and Middle Eastern people in diaspora in Europe (particularly Germany!). Join us on facebook ; I'm tculhane@ucla.edu

[pfun41]

tee an oil line into the main fuel feed and put a valve between the tee and a gravity feed tank. fill th etank with oil and adjust the valve for the proper amount of oil. small 2 stroke scooters use the same principle for lubrication.

[tculhane]

@pfun41 This suggestion of a simple way to get lube oil into the two-stroke engine when running on biogas is really helpful! Thanks. Would love to see a demonstration of it, if anybody has a vid on line. Cheers!

[bethehammer]

rather than using bricks, have you thought about using a small tire inflator type of air compressor to move the gas from the digester to a storage tank like a propane tank? I am wondering if this is possible, this way you could put the biogas in a tank under pressure. also you can take the tank where you need to run the generator with out being near the digester.

[secretsquirlPooP]

On the oil issue, have you tried using a gravity feed with needle valve directly in to the carb?

or an oiler between the carb and air filter instead of feeding it from the fuel side?

[Agnikul]

Really enjoyed the demonstration. I am trying something similar but with a larger fixed dome cow dung biogas digester. Having problems with excessive water condensation in the gas pipe which might be helping remove C02 but actually gets into the engine. I hope you will post updates. Good luck and thanks for sharing!

[spanner1972]

Great video guys. Not sure if already mentioned...but to overcome you oil injection issue have you tried using a small four stroke engine. Own lube supply...no more probs??? just a thought

[arpedac]

veri nice videos ...we are Cameroonian base association, we promote sustainable and alternative energy to community to reduce poverty and improve life standards please provide us with the details drawing and how to modify a diesel generator to use gas thank you

[TheWaterman1000]

Where you able to get an in line oiler to work right. I have a 2-stroke sitting in the garage to use as a project.

[reytdhfuytf]

Hi really good to see people doing this sort of thing, hope you get the oiler sorted out. You should not try to oil the engine through the plug hole because the oil is very important to the crank and con rod bearings, and this will not reach them.Maybe a 4 styroke would be better, you could pick an old one up on ebay for not much more than you spent on your oilers.

Keep saving the planet.

[kiekkrse1]

Hey, have you researched using inner-tubes to harvest the methane, and then also pressurize the system? This gives enough pressure that you can effectively use the regulator