Biodigestores revised

BIODIGESTORESBIODIGESTORES

Materials1. 1 PVC macho adaptor ½”2. 2 five gallon buckets with the bottoms removed3. 1 PVC hembra adaptor ½”4. 2 non-corrosive washers (4-6 inch diameter) with a ½” hole 5. 2 rubber spacers 1 inch of equal or greater diameter than the washer6. 1 PVC Tee conjunction ½”7. 1 PVC ninety degree conjunction ½”8. 1 ½” metal valve9. 4x4 inch piece of metallic screen10. 3-4 feet of ½” PVC tubing11. 1 roll of plastic hose ½” (amount determined by distance of the biodigestor from the kitchen)12.1 two liter plastic bottle13. 4 one meter sturdy stakes14. 2 two meter posts15. ¼ gallon PVC glue16. Rope 5-10 feet longer than the biodigestor bag17. Saw (to cut PVC), scissors, machete, pick axe, shovel, hoe,

twine or string

SIGHT PREPERATIONA ditch 8m x 1m x 60cm with an approximate

difference of 5cm from entrance to exit(ditch dimensions will vary according to plastic)

Clear ditch of any debris that could puncture the plastic.

Walls of ditch spackled with mud to cover protruding root ends.

2. Excavate a stair at both ends of the ditch (approximately 20cm deep, 45cm wide).

(1. Provisional, well secured posts need to also be installed at both ends of the ditch (approx. 2ft. behind the stairs).

Extend 10m of plastic over a clean concrete surface

(note: no shoes on the plastic).

After cutting the first 10m, extend an equal amount of plastic again through the cut portion.

After extending the second portion, take care to align the two bags so as to avoid any folds or bunching.

Once the two bags are aligned, extend a rope (approximately 15m) through the double bag and tie it

off at the secured posts on both ends of the ditch so as to leave the bag hanging, however, touching the

ground.

Once the bag is in place the gas outlet can be installed. You’ll need two non-corrosive palm size washers, and

two rubber spacers of equal or greater size.

Insert a ½ inch PVC hembra adaptor with the rubber Insert a ½ inch PVC hembra adaptor with the rubber spacer on top of the non-corrosive washer, and spacer on top of the non-corrosive washer, and likewise with the ½ inch PVC macho adaptor.likewise with the ½ inch PVC macho adaptor.

The location of the gas outlet will depend largely on the general surroundings of the ditch. The hole does not need to be in the

middle of the bag, it can be placed towards one end or another so as to take advantage of hanging branches for the outlet’s support. If there are no surrounding branches to support the outlet tubing,

a post may be installed to serve the same purpose.

Once the location has been chosen, make a small cut, no bigger than a ½ inch, through the double bag.

The hembra adaptor is placed inside the bag, tightened with the macho adaptor on the outside.

Once the gas outlet is in position, the bag is filled with unchlorinated water to

approximately 4 inches below the stairs on both ends of the ditch.

As the bag fills with water, the rope sustaining it is removed and the outlet tubing is glued into place,

taking into consideration the direction of the kitchen and the height of any supporting branches.

Note: take special care that no glue touches the bag.

After cutting a ½ inch size hole in a 2 liter bottle, a tee conjunction is placed at a distance determined by the supporting branch. The 2 liter is then filled approximately half full with water to submerge

the PVC extension. The submersion allows for excess gas to escape while preventing air from entering the system.

A small metal screen is inserted into the tee conjunction to prevent the flame from passing into the system.

Once tied to the supporting branch, the primary valve is installed at a short distance from the excess gas release.

Two stakes are hammered securely in place at a distance the width of the bucket on both ends of the ditch. The plastic is then pulled through the bucket, folded over, and tied to both bucket and the stakes with a long 2 inch wide strip of rubber (any rope will do).

It is essential that each bucket be submerged in at least 3-4 inches of water to prevent gas from escaping. The entrance

bucket rest in an up-right position while the exit bucket is tilted

at a 45 degree angle to allow the passage of excess liquids.

The suggested initial input to bring the biodigestor up to a functional level is 20 buckets of two shovels of cow manure (one shovel of pig

manure) mixed with five gallons of water. The same mixture is added once a day for at least eight consecutive days following the original

mixture; after which point the input may continue as such or decrease to every other day. One can expect a period of at least 30-60 days until

the biodigestor is operating at full capacity.

Note: all mixtures should be well liquefied, any incorporated fruit should also be well shredded.

In the Kitchen

Two valves are secured to the stove, then depending upon the placement of the stove and the direction of the incoming tubing, a 90 degree and tee conjunction

are placed accordingly.

A small piece of PVC is measured and cut to bridge the two conjunctions.

To avoid reaching across an open flame to close the valves, recommended valve

placement is between the burner and the stove operator.

¡Buen Provecho!¡Buen Provecho!