Prototype Design of a Biogas-Powered Engine Motor Driven Generator

Mel Angelo T. Abracia, Marc Anthony R. Camacho, Dina L. Castillo. “Prototype Design of a Biogas-Powered Engine Motor Driven Generator”. Unpublished Project Study for the Degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, March 2015. Energy crisis is quite a serious issue that needs focus and attention. Engineers, specifically electrical engineers, play the most important role in generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy because they are the ones who design and manage the energy being produced by the power plants itself. The search for a more economical, environmental friendly and efficient energy source is still ongoing nowadays. The idea of proposing a design of a biogas-powered motor driven generator answers the problem of energy crisis and aims to protect the environment and natural resources. The main objective of this approach is to know how to harness and make use of the biogas itself to become a new energy source that could supply the electrical energy needed. The study contributes to the great pool of knowledge and promotion of green engineering and renewable energy. The study concentrates on the design of the proposed design of a biogas-powered motor driven generator that is based on the needs of the people regarding to the energy crisis and search for a cheaper source of energy. It is also based on the design codes, standards and specification required and imposed here in the country. The prototype itself is made from the cheapest and readily available components in the market nowadays. It operates in a simple manner and fabricated in the simplest way. The generator is made from a 3 phase, 440V induction motor that has a terminal configuration of wye configuration and has been connected to a 12.5 microfarad motor run capacitors that is connected in a delta configuration. The capacitor gives the magnetizing current needed by the induction motor to operate as generator. After the conversion of induction motor to generator, it is put to a pulley and belt system together with the internal combustion engine that could run on three different fuels, gasoline, LPG and biogas or natural gas. The engine motor will serve as the prime mover of the generator that could run it from low speed to high speed. The output of the generator depends on the speed acted by the prime mover to the generator.