Revolution in Rural and tribal areas through Biogas and LPG bundling
The present scenario of Rural and tribal areas of India are subject to the vagaries of energy crisis and it is really in bad shape.
Fire wood has always been the most important and easily available entity in these areas, for its usage as a fuel in abundance. As a result of serious environment implications, mainly due to C02 and NOx emissions by the incomplete combustion of wood, strict government policies are implemented against deforestation leading to unavailability of this fuel.
Government and other organizations like NGOs took the initiative to combat this situation of crisis and find a solution to the arising environment issues through installations of Gobar gas and Biogas Plants.
Undoubtedly, the plants were installed in numerous numbers but success attained was minimal -less than 10% as expected, either because they are running with less rated capacity, running abruptly due to deficiency of raw materials or have been closed down.
This resulted in aggravation of Energy Crisis, Pollution and sanitation issues etc., in rural and tribal parts of India.
The solution for all this crisis lies in Bundling of LPG in vapour phase with Bio Gas.
Suggestion
It is proposed to provide an installation consisting of LPG manifold system consisting of 2 to 5 cylinders (domestic) initially to cater domestic needs of the villagers and LPGb manifold system of Commercial LPG for commercial needs. The number of commercial cylinders connected to this manifold will depend on commercial energy requirement.
Both manifolds will be connected to either Biogas Digester or Gobar Gas Plant outlet line of the plant from where the gas produced is supplied to the end user. From here the Biogas and LPG (in vapour phase after pressure reduction) will be supplied either through household pipeline network or through commercial pipeline network.
Above is important since while on the one hand, tariff of commercial and domestic LPG is different on the other hand commercial Biogas cost (tariff) may also be charged more so that total effective cost of Domestic LPG may not have pressure and may be little cheaper in group of villages where cluster of micro
industries/ where craftsmen are more in numbers. Above will act as catalyst to develop and promote villages for becoming more enterprising.
Now, as per plan, it is clear that Biogas LPG Mix will be supplied through this installation and from where the mixed gas will be supplied through low pressure pipeline network.
From the pipeline network, a household /commercial entity will get mixed with the gas through the gas connection for which necessary connections will be done in line with safety norms as usual in reticulated system for household connections and commercial connections as per safety guidelines.
As per Govt, of India plan, more and more LPG distributors are being commissioned under Rural category/ Urban and Rural category and moreover new series of LPG distributors meant for distribution of LPG cylinders with name and style as Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak are being commissioned. The Government of India has ambitious plan to penetration of LPG coverage from 50% to 75% by year 2015 as per vision plan 2015. In Rural areas the penetration of LPG is approximate 20% only.
For implementation of above proposal, commercial help of these LPG distributors and NGOs may be solicited to achieve the same.
Technical analysis:
Biogas is a flammable mixture of different gases that is produced by decomposition of biodegradable organic matters by microorganisms in absence of air (that is- Oxygen).Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion of biological waste such as cattle dung .vegetable waste sheep and poultry droppings .local bodies solid wastes, industrial waste water .landfills etc .
Main composition of Bio gas:
Methane: 50- 70 % Carbon Dioxide: 30-40% Hydrogen: 5-10%
Besides this small quantities of N2, water vapor and H2S may be present which can be extracted as it is unwanted.
Methane has a good calorific value and some other gases, in this set-up, do not have any adverse effect such as C02 and N2 which are basically neutral gases.
Advantages and benefits to the society of rural and tribal areas:
1. The present day energy cost is unaffordable despite of the providence of
heavy subsidies by Government of India. Even BPL families who have been distributed LPG connections, cylinders and regulators free of cost by various state governments and Government of India have been unable to bear the cost of regular refills.
So, with the idea of bundling of Biogas and LPG, this problem can be eradicated and the effective refill cost of this mixed gas will be affordable and available in such remote areas.
2. In this set up the total waste generated in such rural and tribal areas may be managed in a way so that the unwanted leftovers which have always been a sanitation and heath issue will be converted to a profitable and environmental friendly entity thus reducing pollution.
3. Moreover with the installation of the above system, penetration of LPG may easily increase to 75% in India by 2015 as per the plan of Government of India which is hardly 50 % at present.
4. The use of LPG with above system will be highly safe.