A A SMART REAL-TIME MONITORING SYSTEM FOR UPGRADING BIOGAS AND BIOMETHANESMART REAL-TIME MONITORING SYSTEM FOR UPGRADING BIOGAS AND BIOMETHANE

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion contributes significantly to the generation of biomethane, which is a renewable energy source. Effective management in a bioreactor requires monitoring its internal digesting levels in order to have a prompt response, which will ensure production and prevent any process problems. Currently, there is a dearth of affordable and accurate instruments for small-scale or research-scale biomethane production system measurement. The goal of this research was to develop a device that could track the components of biogas mixture and its production in real time. Initially, the Arduino Uno microcontroller was used to develop this, and later, the open-source ESP32-LoRa was used to measure and control, in real time, the production of reactors installed in remote areas. The device includes a brushless motor-driven compound mixing rotor and a network of connected sensors that are periodically checked via remote communication and data archiving. In order to enhance the biomethane generated, it also features a gas filter system. Within the framework of a circular economy, this device's low cost and reproducibility make it suitable for measuring and controlling biogas production from remote reactors autonomously in real time.