What is the production capacity of a biodigester?
This is probably THE MOST frequently asked question, and is the most difficult to answer for the following reasons: • Biogas production is best measured by scientific processes not common in rural Costa Rica and with tools not available in rural Costa Rica (sorry) • Biogas production varies with the type of material you use to feed the biodigester • Biogas production varies with the temperature of the mixture inside the tank • Biogas production varies with the acidity or alkalinity of the mixture inside the tank • Other factors, such as defects in construction, can make true measurements of biogas production very difficult To give an answer, though, the best estimate I can give is what I’ve measured in cooking time for the biodigesters that we have here in Santa Fe. Biodigesters here that measure 1.9 meters X 1.5 meters X 3 meters, that work well, will produce about six hours of cooking time daily. This should be sufficient for all the cooking for a large family.
