4. Introduction | 1
Introduction
LANDFILLSWaste Management infrastructure is woefully inadequate in Bangalore. All the waste is
indiscriminately dumped in landfills in MANDUR and MAVALLIPURA.
On August 27, 2012, Bangalore city’s landfill at Mandur stopped receiving the mixed municipal
waste due to a Public Interest Litigation filed in the Honourable High Court of Karnataka.
Waste spilled over from every street corner of the city onto the roads and foothpaths.
Bangalore is no longer identified as Garden City. It is now branded as Garbage City.
Mandur and Mavallipur landfills(Bangalore,Karntaka)
Mavallipur
Mandur
5. On October 1, 2012, Bangalore took a very big step through a directive of the Hon’ble High Court of
Karnataka in terms of managing its waste by segregation at source into biodegradable and
recyclables which was further strengthened by a notification from the comissioner of BBMP(Bruhat
Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), across the board to households and bulk generators of waste.
Managing Waste
Introduction | 1
WET
(Organic)
DRY
(Paper,
plastic,
metal)
GREEN
(Leaf &
litter)
SANITARY
(toilet)
Waste categories
60 %
Organic
waste
10 %
rejects
10 %
toxic
20 %
recycable
waste
7. SI.
NO.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Category
Household Level (houses)
Small sized establishments
(apartments/ campuses)
Medium sized
establishments
(complexes, apartments &
office, parks)
Large sized establishments
(choultries,restaurants,
hotels)
City wide (Centralised
municipal waste
management)
Quantity of waste
generated
1-10 kg/day
10-50 kg/day
50-150 kg/day
150-500 kg/day
500 kg/day and above
Area needed
(sq.ft.)
<50
50-200
200-500
up to 1000
Above 1000
Daily waste generated by different organization/apartment
Assessment Metrics
Research | 10
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/apnacomplex/wake-up-clean-up-how-to-process-wet-waste-hand-book352013
8. Managing Wet Waste
Research | 9
COMPOSTING BIOGAS
Every waste generator must first assess the quantum and category of waste generated.
Amount of wet waste depends on multiple factors such as nature of business and presence of
food preparation units (Canteens,kitchens)
MANAGING
WET WASTE
9. ELECTRICITY
BIOGASORGANIC WASTE
COOKING GAS
MOTOR VEHICAL
Fig 1.1 Different Application of biogas
Biogas is a gas produced by the breakdown of bio-degradable organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
This process is also referred to as ‘anaerobic fermentation’ of bio-degradable materials.
Introduction to Biogas
Research | 12
10. Introduction to Biogas
Research | 12
BOWEL
MOVEMENT DIGESTION
FOOD WASTE
ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION
GAS
FERTILISER
The process that takes place in biogas is quite similar to the digestive system in ours.
“ Its a very low tech product, you put food it decays and produces methane. The principle is very
simple.”
- Mr. Ramkumar (FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, Our Native Resort)
Digestive system Anaerobic digester
12. HYPOTHESIS :
To enhance the functionality of the existing biogas unit in order to make it more acceptable and
user friendly.
INTENT :
- To improve the overall aesthetics in order to make it more consumer friendly.
- To study the user interface and make it more user friendly through design interventions in
ergonomics and aesthetics.
- Attempt to make it part of the space.
- Exploring the complications invovled in scaling up the biogas plant from a low tech product to a
commercial scale.
Diploma Project
Diploma project brief | 4
1. AESTHETICS
3. CONSIDERING
THE SPACE
4. IMPROVING THE
EFFICIENCY BY
ENHANCING THE
ENGINEERING
AND FUNCTIONALITY
2. USER FRIENDLY
13. Fig 1.4 Biogas at OPUS
Biogas
Research | 18
“ People invest in a digester for different objectives either to save LPG or for sustainability reason.”
- Mr. Ramkumar (FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, Our Native Resort)
14. Opus
Research | 18
Opus, in Latin means a piece of work of art or music. Located on Palace Cross road. Opus is essentially
a huge bungalow that has been converted into a restaurant with the courtyard being the hub of action.
The main courtyard is open and airy, with swaying palms and dim lighting to add to the Goan feel. The
crowd is a mix of students, working professionals, couples, girl gangs and the who’s who!
No. of LPG(Liquified petroleum gas) used in a month: 32- 35 for restaurant and 9 for staff. Daily 1
cylinder and weekends 2 cylinders
Food cooked on daily basis in the resturant for around 80-100 people
Everyday menu for staff:
MONDAY: Dal and rice
TUESDAY: Chicken
WEDNESDAY: Egg curry
THURSDAY:Sambar and rice
FRIDAY: Dal and rice
SATURDAY: Vegetable, Dal and rice
SUNDAY:Chicken
NOTE: Digester in opus is being used for staff cooking.
Opus Restaurant
15. Opus
Research | 18
Opus Space where the biogas is placed
Digester
Washing area Gas pipe Kitchen
Putting waste in the waste inlet Adding waste
16. “Delivering technological innovations that
are sustainable, eco-friendly, cost-effective and simple.”
Based in Bangalore, India ‘Connect Infra’ is part of the Connect Ventures group of companies. Founded
in 2009 with the objective of bringing new and innovative technologies and processes to the fields of
road infrastructure, renewable energy and water treatment.
road
infrastructure
renewable
energy
water
treatment
Connect
Infra
• Biogas plant
• Solar photovoltaic systems
Client
Diploma project brief | 5
Website: http://connect-infra.com/
http://connect-ventures.com/about
17. Process
Diploma project brief | 5
Transform your choosen
ideas into products that
can be industrialized and
marketed successful.
Generate ideas,
intervention and concepts which
offer intelligent
solutions to the problems
Familiarize yourself
with current product
Market research
User research
Business research Design these products
to last atleast 10 years
Studying the
people who use
the product
Identify the problems
Insights
Secondary research Primary research Ideation Prototype
Create products that are
beautiful, useful and
demonstrable.
20. WASTE INPUT
How much waste do you accumulate daily?
What all can we put in the digester?
How much of waste is sufficient?
What if you put waste once a week?
What waste products need to be avoided?
How many times do we put the waste?
LPG
How many LPG do you use in a month?
How many cylinders are you saving after installing biogas?
Would you want to get rid of LPG?
How much do you spend on LPG?
ALTERNATIVE
What are the other alternatives you use for cooking?
How much did you invest in it?
PROCESS
How much time does it take to generate gas?
Can we add any enzymes to increase the process?
Questionnaire
Research | 29
21. AESTHETICS + SPACE
Are you happy with the aesthetics?
Are you aware of the material?
Are you happy with the material used?
Does it occupy a lot of space?
If you wanted to where else would you place your biogas?
SECURITY
Do you find biogas safe?
What precautionary measures do you take?
Does it have any leakage problems?
CLEANING
How do you clean it?
How many times do you have to clean it?
COST
How much did you pay?
How much maintenance do you pay?
STORAGE
Can you store methane gaslike LPG?
Research | 30
Questionnaire
22. BIOGAS = METHANE + CARBON DIOXIDE + HYDROGEN SULPHIDE
70 %
methane
30 %
other gases
Fig 1.2 Biogas constituent
All methane flames are pure blue in color and are 30-40% low in calorific value compared to LPG and is
low combustible.
Gas Composition
Research | 13
23. Fats and greases
Bakery waste
Food scraps
Corn silage
Grass silage
Green Clippings
Brewery Waste
Chicken manure
Potato waste
Pig manure
Cow manure
Fig 1.3 Waste hierarchy
There is a waste pyramid, there are some waste which are very high in calorific value which means they
give out a lot more methane in a shorter period of time and volume compared to other waste.
Raw Material
Research | 15
24. Once the gas is filled the dome rises up and floats, as the gas keeps getting over the dome
comes down.
Floating Gas Holder
Research | 25
25. MATERIAL: FRP (Fiber reinforced plastic)
MANUFACTURER: B-Sustain,Chennai
MANUFACTUING TECHNIQUE: Split molding
LAND REQUIREMENT: 3 feet
VOLUME: 2 cubic meter
Anaerobic digester
Research |19
28. The first time you install biogas you need to fill up the digester completely with water and cowdung in
1:1 ratio.
Water and cowdung
Installation Of Biogas
Research | 22
33. Process
Research | 27
Add the chopped
pieces in the pre
digester along with
water in the ratio of
1:1 (Waste:Water)
Once the waste is
crushed, you get
semi solid waste
called slurry.
Open the waste
inlet lid.
Carry slurry to the
anaerobic digester.
34. Process
Research | 27
Pour the slurry in
the waste inlet.
Cover the waste
inlet back.
While the gas is
being used the
floating dome will
come down.
Simultaneously the
semi solid residue
will exit from the
pipe and can be
used as a fertiliser.
After 5-6 hours as
the gas is generated
the floating dome
will start rising.
35. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Something from nothing
USERS
PROCESS
WASTE
SPACE
Restaurant
BIOGAS
ERGONOMICS
Where
Material
Transporatation
Dome
movement
External clamps
Types of biogas
Cost reduction
Motivation to use
the product
Portable
Ugly looking
Minimalistic
Dismantable
Fun
Innovative
Planters
Pre-digester
space around the digester
Lamp
Playful
Universal
IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM
What
WhyHow
IMPROVING USER EXPERIENCE
Adding utility
LPG
System design
Testing
Simplying
the process
Opus
Underground
Middle Above
Types of
waste
Nobody wants to
touch it
Dealing with
waste
AESTHETICS
Brainstorming
Research | 8
36. Usability testing
Research | 10
WHAT: We tracked the digester for a month on a daily basis.
WHY: To evaluate the user friendliness of the existing biogas unit witht the representative user.
Comparing it to LPG in terms of time.
WHERE: The digester is used at OPUS, located on palace cross road essentially a bungalow that has
been converted in a restaurant . The crowd is a mix of
students, working professionals, couples and girls gangs.
WHEN: The waste input (15 kilo minimum) was added once in a day which generated gas for 2 hours in
the
morning and 2 hours in the evening.
HOW: User attempted to complete the typical tasks while performance and subjective metrics were
measured.
Performance metrics: Success,time taken for
completion of tasks and errors.
Subjective metrics: User’s self reported satisfaction and comfort ratings in relation with the tasks
performed.
38. Usability testing
Research | 10
Different food cooked on biogas
Rice
Chicken curry Boiling vegetables Boiling potato
Boiling Tomato Omellette
39. Benefits
Simple, user-friendy, and needs no
recurring expenses.
Can be converted to electricity and
heat in anaerobic digesters.
The climate change and green
house gas emission can be
controlled/reduced by the capturing
of methane through
biomethanisation.
The treated biowaste materials
coming out from the digester is in
the form liquid or semi liquid. This
is a very good fertilizer for all types
of plants. This can be mixed with
equal or more quantity of water and
directly be applied to plants.
It is a renewable source of energy,
can be effectively used to tackle the
energy crisis.
Since it is generated from organic
waste it facilitates the process of
decentralised waste management
- the collection, transportation, and
segregation of waste can be totally
avoided as the wastes are treated
at source itself.
Benefits Of Biogas
Research | 16
40. SECONDARY STAKEHOLDERS
bbmp
restaurant customers
lpg companies
college
other biogas companies
restaurant staff
restaurant chef
marketing team
Connect Infra team
Restaurant owners
Household
Schools
B.sustain
Hospitals
Roto moulding
manufacturers
PRIMARY
STAKEHOLDERS
Stakeholders Map
Research | 17
41. 3 inches gap above
the water jacket.
Inlet pipe needs to
be lower than the
outlet pipe.
Both the pipes need
to be till the water
jacket level.
Floating domes
height depends on
the water jacket.
Design Consideration
Research | 26
42. No human contact as
nobody wants to touch
it.
Bigger pieces its difficult
to grind.
Have to break them into
small pieces and then
grind it.
Pipe is used to push the
food inside.
Its a tedious
task to add
water and the
food together.
The container
in which the
slurry is
collected need
to come with
the product.
storage od
methane.
Hybrid of LPG
and biogas.
Improving the
effeciency.
Kitchen waste Pre digester Slurry Waste
inlet
Methane
Shadowing
Research | 28
43. WASTE:
Waste should be considered as raw material.
PRODUCT:
Should be part of kitchen.
Should have qualities of a household product.
Should be plug and play.
Crusher should be incorporated in the unit itself.
Blend in the environment.
Space constraint.
Movability.
PROCESS:
Should become part of your routine.
One person should be able to operate it.
Everyone cannot carry slurry.
Touching of watse.
Wearing gloves.
Insights
Research 31
47. 1 2 3
KITCHEN TO BIN
Segregartion of
waste.
BIN TO CRUSHER
Carry the waste
near the crusher.
SLURRY TO
BIOGAS
Carry the slurry to
the biogas
Research | 35
Problems Identified
48. System Flow 1
Biogas unit +
grinder
SlurryBiogas for
cooking
Waste
garden
kitchen
The waste is produced in the
kitchen, from where it is
transported into the biogas unit
in the garden. Once biogas has
been created the slurry is
released in the garden, and the
biogas has to be transported
into the kitchen.
Cons:
• The waste
has to be
carried outside
= inconvenient
Pros:
• If there is
any smell, it
will not be in
the house
• The slurry
can be used
where it is
produced
System Flow 1
Research | 36
49. System Flow 2
Biogas
unit
SlurryBiogas for
cooking
Waste
Biogas unit +
grinder
The waste is produced in the
kitchen, where it is also
deposited into the biogas unit.
Once biogas has been created
the slurry is taken into the
garden, and the biogas can be
used directly in the kitchen.
garden
kitchen
Cons:
• If there is any
smell coming
from the unit,
it will be
released in the
house
• The slurry
will have to be
taken outside
from the
kitchen
Pros:
• The biogas
can be used
where it is
produced
Could it be placed next to the
normal bin in most
households? Is there space?
System Flow 2
Research | 37
50. Aesthetics :
> Material
> Color
> Form
> Pipes
Waste inlet :
> Movable
> Adjustable
Crusher :
> Insink motor
> Peddle
Adding utility :
> Seating
> Lamp
Ergonomics :
> Above the gorund
> Under the ground
> Mid-level
Space design :
Slurry :
Movability :
> Wheel
>Stand
Transportability
Problems Identified
Research | 38
54. Lamp
(using
methane gas
produced
inside)
Led lights
stand
Gas markings
two different colors
different
shapes of
dome
different
finishes in
plastic
cutouts for
aesthetics
Elastic thread
going around
for pressure
Led lights
Form Exploration
Ideation | 42
61. 1. Figuring out size 2. stackable digesters 3. Size of the prototype
4. Scaled down model 5. Form exploration 6. Pipe fittings
Quick Mock-up
Prototype | 49
62. 10. Pipe fittings 11. size of the waste inlet 12. Figuring out shape
7. Two digesters 8. Waste inlet 9. Waste inlet fitting
Quick Mock-up
Prototype | 50
76. FRONT VIEW TOP VIEW SIDE VIEW RIB DETAIL
A B
Stacked MDF
boards
CNC (computer
numerical
control)
MATERIAL: MDF
(Medium density
fibeboard)
SIZE OF THE BOARD:
8’x4’
NO. OF BOARDS:
THICKNESS: 1”
800 dia - 13
825 dia - 5
724 dia - 2
724 dia 800 dia 825 dia
8’ X 4’
Digesters
MDF Pattern
Prototype | 63
77. MATERIAL: MDF
(Medium density
fibeboard)
SIZE OF THE BOARD:
8’x4’
NO. OF BOARDS:
THICKNESS: 1”
SIDE VIEWTOP VIEW 2
296.73284.23
TOP VIEW 1BASE
A B
RIB DETAIL
Stacked MDF
boards
800 dia - 13
825 dia - 5
724 dia - 2
CNC (computer
numerical
control)
8’ X 4’
Side covers
Prototype | 64
MDF Pattern
78. 8’ X 4’
1”
762
762
1. MDF board
FRONT VIEW TOP VIEW SIDE VIEW
2. CNC machine 3. MDF cut-outs 4. Pattern
Floating drum
Prototype | 65
MDF Pattern
84. Resources
Resources | 71
Over a period of three months, several concepts were developed upon, most in theory and some
selected practically. Working around technical constraints was the hardest challenge, one not so easy
to overcome, and alternative remained few. The final developed products need another stage of
refinement, where the pre-digester needs to be a part of biogas.
Aesthetically could be more appealing, but couldn’t due to time contraint.Biogas is a easy process,
there is need to make people aware of the technology.
My aim next, is to work on the pre-digester being a part of the digester which will make the product
very user friendly and encourage people to invest in it as it will be plug and play.
85. Resources
BOOKS
How to manage your wet bio degradable waste
WEB
http://www.biotech-india.org/
http://www.indiamart.com/bsustain/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas
PEOPLE
Mr. Ramakrishna,Our native village, Bangalore
Mr. Ramakanth ,Member of solid waste mangement round table, Bangalore
Sheetal singh,City managers association, Karnataka
Anita PG, user
Mr. Kumar, User
Mr. Parthasarathy,Owner of B-sustain
Chitravishwanath, Architect
Jackson
DOVETAIL
John Matthew, Director, Dovetail
Shivanna
UNIQUE FIBRES
K. Chandran, Proptietor, unique fibres
Resources | 71
86. ADVISORS
Janak Mistry, Teacher, Product Design dept, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology
Carl Lindquis, Teacher, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology
Abhiyan, Teacher, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology
Manas, Teacher, Product Design dept, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology
John Matthew, Teacher,Furniture design dept, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology
CONNECT VENTURES
Mr. Karn Malhotra
Mr. Shiva
SPECIAL MENTION
Anees Mehkri
Pradeep James
Resources | 72
Resources
