A rare snowstorm hit large parts of Central and Southern China, causing significant damage and drawing widespread attention from the government and the public. People in the affected areas are working hard to overcome the challenges and gradually resume their daily lives and production activities.
After the heavy snowfall, many household biogas digesters were frozen and stopped producing gas, which worsened the energy shortage in these regions. In places where energy is already scarce, finding a way to quickly reactivate biogas systems is crucial for restoring normal living conditions after the disaster.
It's common for biogas production to drop significantly in winter, or even go into hibernation. While it may seem difficult to get biogas back on track, the real challenge lies in understanding that biogas can still be produced during cold months if the right methods are applied. The key is to wake up the biogas system and ensure it functions properly throughout the winter.
Here’s how you can do it:
First, remove about half of the digester content and cover it with a thick layer of straw (10–20 cm) or dried grass. Then place a black plastic sheet over the straw, followed by a transparent film. Secure the edges with soil or sand, making sure the coverage extends at least one meter beyond the area. This helps trap heat and promote microbial activity.
Next, add new materials—such as fresh manure or organic waste—into the system. If no new material is available, you can use the previously removed content, re-introduce it after proper preparation. To speed up the process, create a small pit, lay a black film, place the raw material on top, add bacteria-rich substances like soil or manure, and mix in warm water. Cover with a transparent film and let it sit for 5–10 days until gas starts to form.
Then, close the inlet and outlet again. If possible, use a pump to circulate the slurry once a day for about 30 minutes, or manually extract and return the liquid to the inlet. This helps stir the mixture but avoid doing this during cold hours, especially at noon when temperatures drop.
If you have more dry manure or straw, you can pile them on top of the existing layer, sprinkle a little water to help them decompose, and generate heat. This will help raise the temperature around the digester and improve gas production.
During winter, keep the following in mind:
1. Avoid putting cold manure directly into the digester. Pre-ferment it first using the method above before adding it.
2. Don’t feed or empty the digester during cold mornings or nights, or when it's raining or snowing.
3. Don’t add dry manure directly without proper preparation.
For better performance in winter:
1. Add enough raw materials at once to reduce the need for frequent additions.
2. Implement insulation and heating measures in advance, using the same techniques described.
3. Regularly check gas pipelines and joints to prevent leaks caused by temperature changes.
Another effective strategy is to build biogas digesters inside enclosed greenhouses or add a small greenhouse structure to existing systems. This can significantly increase annual gas output regardless of the region.
In conclusion, with proper care and management, biogas systems can continue to function effectively even in the coldest months. It just requires some extra effort and the right techniques to keep the process running smoothly.
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