Abstract:
This project was to develop a system to utilize Biomethane as a transport fuel. It was started
at the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa funded by
the Ministry of Science and technology. In this project, initially a suitable process was
developed to produce biogas utilizing food waste obtained from university canteens and
upgraded as a vehicle fuel. Then the pilot-scale biogas plant was designed and construction
ofthe building and fabrication of equipments were preceded.
Initially laboratory scale experiments were conducted to find out the design parameters such
as analysis of food waste, composition for optimum gas production rate, etc. According to
that, the total solid content (TS) is 37% and total volatile solid content (TVS) is 23%. The
best composition for optimum gas production is 10% solid in the slurry.
The pilot-scale biogas plant was operated and produces biogas utilizing food waste and
upgraded using a water scrubber to remove C02 and H2S. After that, the cleaned gas, which
is having a composition of 85% CEU, was used as a vehicle fuel. For the initial trials, biogas
was replaced with LPG in a LPG three-wheeler without any modification to the three-
wheeler system and it was successfully operated. According to the emission tests carried out
for biogas vehicle fuel, it shows that it is operating environment friendly than gasoline.
