Initial Use of BIRU

Immediately after the completion of reactor construction, clean and empty the dome surrounding. Dispose the remaining debris of building materials in safe disposal location. The top part of the dome shall be filled with earth which serve as an isolation to protect the reactor.

Meanwhile the exterior of the outlet wall or outflowing channel and inlet or inbound channel shall be filled with soil and compressed appropriately. Additionally, a drainage system shall be planned accurately around the reactor to avoid the rainwater seepage from entering the reactor.

Reactor shall be filled with manures once the construction process is completed. Therefore, once the decision to construct the reactor has been made, livestock farmers should immediately collect and store the manures.

Manures Refilling

Refilling amount is dictated by the size of reactor. For example, a 4-cubic meter reactor, requires a 1,600 kg of manures on its initial feeding process and subsequently 32 kg of manures on daily basis with a water mixture (a mix ratio of 1 manures: 1 water for cow manures). Manures for initial feeding shall be manures with significant amount of bacteria. Fresh manures are good manures. When available, during the initial feeding process, ideally bio-slurry (biogas waste) produced by other reactor shall be part of the mixture which act as activator materials.

Subsequently, feed the manures and water into inlet and mix evenly. The purpose is to gain a total solidity between 6-10%. Prior to feeding the mixture of manures and water to inlet pipe toward the reactor, ensure that all valves are in open positions. Fill the reactor with mixture of manures and water up to a level of or cover the manhole. Afterward, ensure that all valves have been shut. Wait for sometime until the methane gas (biogas) is produced. Later on the livestock farmers are required to feed the reactor periodically in accordance with the composition and measurement which are easily applicable.

Several aspects which need close observation when feeding the reactor:

1. Collect manures which are free from elements of hay and other materials.
2. Separate unwanted materials such as the remains of feedstuff, soil, rocks, and other materials from the manures or dungs prior to mixing them with water.
3. Put the hays, remains of feedstuff, and other organic materials to biopore. Do not leave those materials around the inlet unattended.
4. Do not feed the reactor with manures when the gas is in use.
5. Use water accordingly to wash the inlet. Soaps or detergents are not required.
6. To feed the reactor, ensure that the volume ratio between the manures and water have been predetermined. Avoid using old and dry manures in feeding the reactor.
7. When available, during the intial feeding process, it is recommended to use processed bio-slurry (around 50-60 kg).

Gas Leak Inspection

The risk of gas leakage through the connection between pipeline and equipment is always present. In order to avoid excessive leakage, routine inspection on gas leakage is essential. Inspection of gas leakage should start at the primary pipeline (primary gas valve) of the dome.

Leakage normally occurs in the following places:

• Connection between the gas pipe dome and iron thread before the primary gas valve.
• Connection between the primary gas valve and pipeline.
• Every connection along the pipeline.
• Connection between the gas faucet and pipeline.
• Connection between pipeline and gas lamp.
• Additionally, leakage may also be originated from the equipment.

In order to inspect for the leakage locations, proceed with the following steps:

1. Prepare soap and water.
2. Mix soap with water, then shake until liquid foam is present.
3. Smother the foam over the connecting point.
4. When leakage is present, bubbles will burst or move.

Maintaining BIRU installation

Following are the steps that must be performed to improve and maintain the reactor in order for it to last longer:

1. Maintain the earth mound on top of the dome routinely.
2. Clean and lubricate the primary gas valve.
3. Clean and lubricate gas faucets.
4. Clean or repair gas lamp.
5. Clean and repair water drain and overflow.
6. Repair pipeline to stop leakage.
7. Clean the stoves.
8. Replace the rubber hose.