Feasibility Study of Cafeteria Energy Demand with Integration of a Downdraft Bio-digester System

Energy demand load analysis of the 2001 Cafeteria complex, at the University of Lagos, with the audit of a feasible supply of biogas from a bio-degradable food waste using a downdraft bio-digester, is conducted. A walk-through energy audit of all the appliances that are installed or operated within the complex and its building envelope for maintaining the thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and cooking and lighting equipment is considered. The design and optimization of the process of collection, storage and management of the food waste from about twenty vendors operating inside the complex is proposed. Using a standardized performance index for a conventional downdraft biodigester, the energy-saving advantage of developing and integrating a biogas production system with the 2001 Cafeteria is presented. The results of this study are desirable for the estimation of the economical and environmental impact assessment of a proposed development of a compact solar bioreactor for independent generation and storage of hydrogen.