Browsing by Author "Arthur, Richard"

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    Experimental simulation and kinetic modeling of bioenergy potential of Eichornia crassipes biomass from the Volta River basin of Ghana under mesophilic conditions
    (Scientific African, 2023-12-21) Asante, Enoch; Arthur, Richard; Agyemang, Emmanuel Okoh; Baidoo, Martina Francisca; Asiedu, Nana Yaw
    The study presents the results of the laboratory experiment performed on the anaerobic digestion of water hyacinth biomass harvested from the Volta River basin of Ghana and Fruit waste sludge as the inoculum. Batch mode of experiment was performed under mesophilic conditions (29 ± 3 C) with a hydraulic retention time of 61 days. The experimental setup was made up of three (3) fermenter bottles of 5.0 L capacity namely F1, F2 and F3. F1 served as the control whiles F2 and F3 served as the test fermenter bottles. Each of the fermenter bottles was fitted with BlueSens methane sensor and BlueVcount flowmeter for the measurement of methane composition and biogas volumes, respectively. The Theoretical Biomethane Potential (BMP) of the water hyacinth biomass was estimated to be 422.23 ml/gVS. The experimental BMP was determined to be 402.62 ml CH 4 /gVS and 356.03 ml CH 4 /gVS for F2 and F3, respectively. Consequently, a biodegradability value of 95.36 and 84.32 % was obtained from F2 and F3, respectively. Moreover, the F2 fermenter bottle recorded a cumulative net methane and biogas volumes of 5576.3 ml and 12,014 ml, respectively. Likewise, a total net cumulative methane and biogas volumes of 4931.0 ml and 11,384 ml were produced from the F3 fermenter bottle. Using the First order kinetic model, an average value of hydrolysis constant for water hyacinth biomass was determined as 0.051 day 1 . Furthermore, the modified Gompertz model, the logistic function model and Transference function models were used to fit the experimental cumulative biogas and methane production data. The outcome of the study shows that, the production of biogas from water hyacinth biomass harvested the Volta River basin of Ghana could offer sustainable control solutions to its invasion on water bodies whiles providing a cheap and reliable means of biofuel to the riparian communities.
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    Feasibility study of an Institutional biogas plant for central sewage system at KNUST
    (2009-08-18) Arthur, Richard
    Biogas generation is one of the most promising renewable energy sources in Ghana. Apart from its energy source, anaerobic digestion is a reliable method for waste treatment and the digested sludge can be used to enhance the fertility of the soil. This thesis looks at the possibility of constructing a biogas plant at the KNUST sewage treatment plant tapping its feedstock from the Primary Sedimentation Tank. A laboratory experiment was done to determine the faecal sludge quality at the Primary Sedimentation Tank. The flowrate of the sludge was estimated based on the number of times the penstocks (valves) are operated to desludge the sewage which depends on whether the university is on vacation (35.72m"Vday) or in session (71.44m3/day). These parameters were used to determine the biogas potential of the sewage using 10, 20 and 30 days retention time for plant sizes of 800m3, 1600m3 and 2400m3 respectively. The Puxin biogas digester was selected for this design. It was estimated that 152344, 304689 and 358009 m3 of biogas can be produced in a year and the power production was estimated to be 40, 80 and 100 kW for 800m3, 1600m3 and 2400m3 plant sizes respectively. The annual greenhouse gas emission reductions were estimated at 1373, 2751 and 3234 tCC^-e for the 800m3, 1600m3 and 2400m3 plant sizes respectively. A financial analysis was then conducted using UNIDO's COMFAR software to ascertain which one of the three designs was financially viable having environmental impact in mind the possible sale of the digestate as fertilizer from the biogas plant. The estimated total investment cost for the three designs were GH£430,397.40, GH0799,288.90 and GH01,093,262.78 for the plant sizes of 800m3, 1600m3 and 2400m3 respectively. The financial results showed that the NPV for all the plants were negative which implied that none of the project was financially viable.