A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor
A pilot anaerobic bioreactor requires near-daily monitoring and frequent maintenance. This study aimed to upgrade a pilot bioreactor into a low-cost IoT device via ESP32 microcontrollers. The methodology was based on remote data acquisition and online monitoring of various parameters towards assessi...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Sotirios D. Kalamaras Maria-Athina Tsitsimpikou Christos A. Tzenos Antonios A. Lithourgidis Dimitra S. Pitsikoglou Thomas A. Kotsopoulos |
| author_facet | Sotirios D. Kalamaras Maria-Athina Tsitsimpikou Christos A. Tzenos Antonios A. Lithourgidis Dimitra S. Pitsikoglou Thomas A. Kotsopoulos |
| author_sort | Sotirios D. Kalamaras |
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| description | A pilot anaerobic bioreactor requires near-daily monitoring and frequent maintenance. This study aimed to upgrade a pilot bioreactor into a low-cost IoT device via ESP32 microcontrollers. The methodology was based on remote data acquisition and online monitoring of various parameters towards assessing the anaerobic digestion performance. A semi-continuous tank bioreactor with a 60 L total volume was initially inoculated mainly with livestock manure and fed daily with a mixture of glucose, gelatin, and oleic acid, supplemented with a basic anaerobic medium. Under steady-state conditions, the organic loading rate was 2 g VS L<sub>R</sub><sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Sensors for pH, temperature, REDOX potential, and ammonium concentration, along with devices measuring biogas volume and methane content, were integrated and validated against analytical methods. Biogas production was recorded accurately, enabling the early detection of production declines through ex-situ data analysis. Methane concentration variance was less than 6% compared to gas chromatography, while temperature and pH deviations were 0.15% and 1.67%, respectively. Ammonia ion measurements required frequent recalibration due to larger fluctuations. This IoT-enhanced system effectively demonstrated real-time monitoring of critical bioreactor parameters, with ESP32 enabling advanced control and monitoring capabilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-38147fd438024e42ae8c857ab6d33395 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-38147fd438024e42ae8c857ab6d333952025-01-10T13:14:13ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-011513410.3390/app15010034A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas ReactorSotirios D. Kalamaras0Maria-Athina Tsitsimpikou1Christos A. Tzenos2Antonios A. Lithourgidis3Dimitra S. Pitsikoglou4Thomas A. Kotsopoulos5Department of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceA pilot anaerobic bioreactor requires near-daily monitoring and frequent maintenance. This study aimed to upgrade a pilot bioreactor into a low-cost IoT device via ESP32 microcontrollers. The methodology was based on remote data acquisition and online monitoring of various parameters towards assessing the anaerobic digestion performance. A semi-continuous tank bioreactor with a 60 L total volume was initially inoculated mainly with livestock manure and fed daily with a mixture of glucose, gelatin, and oleic acid, supplemented with a basic anaerobic medium. Under steady-state conditions, the organic loading rate was 2 g VS L<sub>R</sub><sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Sensors for pH, temperature, REDOX potential, and ammonium concentration, along with devices measuring biogas volume and methane content, were integrated and validated against analytical methods. Biogas production was recorded accurately, enabling the early detection of production declines through ex-situ data analysis. Methane concentration variance was less than 6% compared to gas chromatography, while temperature and pH deviations were 0.15% and 1.67%, respectively. Ammonia ion measurements required frequent recalibration due to larger fluctuations. This IoT-enhanced system effectively demonstrated real-time monitoring of critical bioreactor parameters, with ESP32 enabling advanced control and monitoring capabilities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/34biogasIoT bioreactoranaerobic digestionmethaneESP32 |
| spellingShingle | Sotirios D. Kalamaras Maria-Athina Tsitsimpikou Christos A. Tzenos Antonios A. Lithourgidis Dimitra S. Pitsikoglou Thomas A. Kotsopoulos A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor Applied Sciences biogas IoT bioreactor anaerobic digestion methane ESP32 |
| title | A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor |
| title_full | A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor |
| title_fullStr | A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor |
| title_short | A Low-Cost IoT System Based on the ESP32 Microcontroller for Efficient Monitoring of a Pilot Anaerobic Biogas Reactor |
| title_sort | low cost iot system based on the esp32 microcontroller for efficient monitoring of a pilot anaerobic biogas reactor |
| topic | biogas IoT bioreactor anaerobic digestion methane ESP32 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/34 |
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