Optimization of Mass Flow Rate for N-Flat Plate Collector Integrated Biogas Plant for Winter Season at Srinagar, Kashmir (India) Location for Achieving Superior Performance

Abstract

Biogas is a sustainable form of renewable energy that can be harnessed from biomass and is freely available. Biomass is formed by the process of photosynthesis which can occur only in the presence of sunlight. Thus solar energy is the main driving force behind the production of bioenergy. A major concern that needs to be tackled especially in developing countries is energy poverty wherein 1.4 billion people in rural areas are still lacking access to electricity. This research work would be of great help in benefiting the rural masses that survive on burning of biomass. In this communication, the analysis has been done for Srinagar, Kashmir (India) which has harsh and cold climatic conditions. A detailed parametric analysis has been performed. The calculations were performed by using MATLAB 2014a. In this paper the effect of mass flow rate of the slurry ((m) over dot(f)) a sensitive parameter has been presented to design an active system. Further, the mass flow rate of the slurry ((m) over dot(f)) for an active N-flat plate collector integrated biogas (N-FPCIB) plant has been optimised for the winter season that is for the months of October to February for Srinagar, Kashmir (India) location by using IMD, Pune data. The N-FPCIB plant would show superior performance if made to function at optimized mass flow rate.