SUBSTANTIATION OF PARAMETERS AND EFFICIENCY OF MACHINES FOR PROCESSING LIVESTOCK WASTE INTO BIOGAS AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

Abstract

The paper addresses an актуal scientific and practical problem of substantiating the parameters and evaluating the efficiency of machines used for processing livestock waste into biogas and organic fertilizers. Under conditions of increasing energy demand in the agricultural sector and stricter environmental requirements, the implementation of resource-saving technologies that ensure the utilization of organic waste with simultaneous production of energy and valuable by-products is of particular importance. The study analyzes the technological processes of anaerobic digestion and determines the main parameters affecting the efficiency of machines and equipment, including bioreactor volume, temperature regime, substrate retention time, degree of substrate preparation, and mixing intensity. It has been established that the most rational approach is the use of a mesophilic fermentation regime (30–38 °C) with a retention time of 20–30 days, which ensures stable biogas production and optimal energy consumption. Particular attention is paid to the technical and technological substantiation of machines for feedstock preparation, including shredders, homogenizers, and screw separators, which improve substrate uniformity and reduce the load on the bioreactor. The influence of mixer design on the intensity of biochemical processes has been investigated, and it has been proven that efficient mixing contributes to increased methane yield and stabilization of the digestion process. The obtained results demonstrate that the application of modern machinery and technologies can increase biogas yield by 15–25% and produce high-quality digestate with improved agrochemical properties compared with conventional manure. It has been determined that digestate contains higher amounts of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium forms, which enhances its efficiency as an organic fertilizer. The economic and environmental feasibility of implementing biogas plants in agricultural enterprises has been substantiated. The use of such systems contributes to reducing energy costs, minimizing the negative environmental impact of waste, and creating a closed-loop production cycle.