He Uses Manure To Power Tractors, Truck
Danny Kluthe runs his farm truck and tractors on methane produced from hog manure. After years of using biogas from his manure digester to power a generator, he learned to compress and purify it to use as a diesel fuel alternative. Working with his partner Kevin Kenney, the two have developed a compact system for others to use and are marketing it under the name Grass Roots Energy Nebraska.
“Every livestock operation or anyone producing organic waste can make their own fuel for vehicles or for generating electricity,” says Kluthe. “Methane is a natural resource, and the byproduct is a clean smelling fertilizer.”
The methane produced by Kluthe’s digester is essentially the same as natural gas. Using a process patented by Kenney, Kluthe runs his Chevy Duramax 3/4-ton truck on a mix of 80 percent compressed methane and 20 percent diesel. He runs his White diesel tractor on 90 percent compressed methane and 10 percent diesel.
“If I am away from the farm and need to refill my tanks, I can simply use compressed natural gas (CNG),” says Kluthe.
The methane fuel is produced largely with equipment used by the CNG industry, notes Kenney. It’s stored in tanks at 3,600 psi. The two are working with investors to further develop the system.
“If you have a digester, we can build a compressor system to match it,” says Kenney. “Depending on the amount of gas being produced, the systems range in price from $5,000 to $20,000.”
Kenney suggests a $5,000 system could process 10 cu. ft. of biogas per min. to produce 2 gal. of diesel fuel equivalent per hr.
Kenney has designed and built 4 of the compressor systems and is ready to build more. The lack of digesters is one factor holding up adoption. Another is converting equipment to run on methane. He points to new tractors in Europe that are designed to run on CNG and tractors in the U.S. in the 1950’s designed to run on propane.
“We aren’t given the alternative in the U.S. today,” he says. “Danny had an older White diesel tractor that was easy to convert, but modern tractors require an algorithm change.”
Kenny says the companies have the algorithms needed to run alternative fuels but refuse to release them. He suggests that income from maintenance may be one reason. He points out that an advantage to methane is a lack of particulates. He notes that particulate filters required on Tier 4 tractor and combine engines clog up and have to be cleaned out with high-pressure steam at considerable time and expense to the owner.
Kenney is doing what he can to bypass these companies. His patented system (U.S. Patent 8826888) for mixing and using alternative fuels with diesel fuel meets Tier 4 emissions. In the meantime, he encourages livestock farmers to consider adding a digester to their operations.
“I really see a lot of potential, but we have to get people to put in digesters,” says Kenney. “There is no good argument against using methane.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Grassroots Energy Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. (ph 402 646-0167; Facebook page...Grassroots Energy Nebraska); or Danny Kluthe, 2464 Cty. Rd. 17, Dodge, Neb. 68633 (ph 402 693-2833; dannyk558@hotmail.com).
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He Uses Manure To Power Tractors Truck MANURE HANDLING Miscellaneous Danny Kluthe runs his farm truck and tractors on methane produced from hog manure After years of using biogas from his manure digester to power a generator he learned to compress and purify it to use as a diesel fuel alternative Working with his partner Kevin Kenney the two have developed a compact system for others to use and are marketing it under the name Grass Roots Energy Nebraska “Every livestock operation or anyone producing organic waste can make their own fuel for vehicles or for generating electricity ” says Kluthe “Methane is a natural resource and the byproduct is a clean smelling fertilizer ” The methane produced by Kluthe’s digester is essentially the same as natural gas Using a process patented by Kenney Kluthe runs his Chevy Duramax 3/4-ton truck on a mix of 80 percent compressed methane and 20 percent diesel He runs his White diesel tractor on 90 percent compressed methane and 10 percent diesel “If I am away from the farm and need to refill my tanks I can simply use compressed natural gas CNG ” says Kluthe The methane fuel is produced largely with equipment used by the CNG industry notes Kenney It’s stored in tanks at 3 600 psi The two are working with investors to further develop the system “If you have a digester we can build a compressor system to match it ” says Kenney “Depending on the amount of gas being produced the systems range in price from $5 000 to $20 000 ” Kenney suggests a $5 000 system could process 10 cu ft of biogas per min to produce 2 gal of diesel fuel equivalent per hr Kenney has designed and built 4 of the compressor systems and is ready to build more The lack of digesters is one factor holding up adoption Another is converting equipment to run on methane He points to new tractors in Europe that are designed to run on CNG and tractors in the U S in the 1950’s designed to run on propane “We aren’t given the alternative in the U S today ” he says “Danny had an older White diesel tractor that was easy to convert but modern tractors require an algorithm change ” Kenny says the companies have the algorithms needed to run alternative fuels but refuse to release them He suggests that income from maintenance may be one reason He points out that an advantage to methane is a lack of particulates He notes that particulate filters required on Tier 4 tractor and combine engines clog up and have to be cleaned out with high-pressure steam at considerable time and expense to the owner Kenney is doing what he can to bypass these companies His patented system U S Patent 8826888 for mixing and using alternative fuels with diesel fuel meets Tier 4 emissions In the meantime he encourages livestock farmers to consider adding a digester to their operations “I really see a lot of potential but we have to get people to put in digesters ” says Kenney “There is no good argument against using methane ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Grassroots Energy Nebraska Lincoln Neb ph 402 646-0167; Facebook page Grassroots Energy Nebraska ; or Danny Kluthe 2464 Cty Rd 17 Dodge Neb 68633 ph 402 693-2833; dannyk558@hotmail com
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