Capstone Project

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Group 2012-3A Status completed
Title Design of a Small-Scale Bio-Digestion System for Conversion of Waste to Energy
Supervisor Dr. Pragasen Pillay, Nathan Curry
Description A small-scale (1000L) anaerobic digestion system for processing food waste is currently being built with funding from Concordia's Sustainable Action Fund (SAF) and will be located in the greenhouse on top of the Hall Building. Some of the major challenges when dealing with small-scale bio-digestion involve maintaining a constant system temperature (35C in this case) as well as gas monitoring and utilization. This project will include installing thermocouple ports on the digester tank itself and developing an affordable, easy to maintain, temperature regulation/control system for the polyethylene tank using electrical heat tape. In addition, students will develop a gas flow monitoring system that will allow daily gas production measurements to be recorded. Students will also design a robust gas flow system that can be routed to a modified gas lantern and/or a modified natural gas burner (students will modify).
Student Requirement Basic Control Systems, Basic Thermodynamics
Tools Familiarity with thermal modeling, thermocouples, gas flow meter, electric heat tape, various valves and couplings, gas lantern, a laboratory that has tools for working with wood, metal and plastics
Number of Students 4
Students Suvin Alexander, Volodymyr Romanov, Gupta Ram Naresh, Yu- Wai Leung
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