Effect of loading rates on the performance of different types of biogas plants under shallow water-table conditions in India

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of loading rates on the performance of KVIC, Janata and polyethylene-type biogas plants under shallow water-table conditions. The performance was evaluated on the basis of daily gas production, volatile solid reductions, temperature profile of slurry in the digester and NPK concentrations of effluent slurry. Gas production was less in the Janata plant than in the other two plants at most of the feeding rates; however, its digester was found most efficient on the basis of volatile solids reductions, higher slurry temperature and NPK concentrations of effluent slurry.