Heater that runs on biogas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A small-scale entrepreneur in the city has come up with a heater that works on biogas. The energy-efficient technology, he says, could prove a big help to farmers who now depend on electric heaters to dry agricultural produce. K T Ajayakumar runs the Thankam Gas Stove Service Centre at Vazhayila. ‘’Now, farmers depend on electric heaters to dry their produce, during rainy season and otherwise. This consumes much electricity. The ‘Bio-Heater’ that I’ve developed works on biogas. It can also be used by poultry farmers to heat the incubators for chicks,’’ he said. ‘’The beauty of it is that farmers can use the waste generated at their farms to produce the biogas. In this way, they can reduce the amount of the waste generated. Plus, this is a very cost-effective technology,’’ he said. The outer covering of the ‘Bio-Heater’ is made of MS Sheet. The gas is let in through a 4-mm hole. The main part of the Bio-Heater is made of stainless steel netting.’’ Ajayakumar is quite well-known in the district as an inventor. His previous invention was an energy-efficient gas stove. Ajayakumar, who had to curtail his education after Class X, had spent some years in Saudi Arabia. There, he had developed an equipment to pluck dates without clambering up the palms. This had created some interest in the local papers. ‘’The government there had even issued me a certificate. I still have it. Back home, I developed several such products. But I have not been acknowledged. The authorities say I should have factory to be recognised. I only have my small service centre,’’ he says.