Estimation of Methane Yields in Continuous Biogas Reactors Using Kinetic and Mass Flow Models. Issue 4 (7th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ward, Alastair James; Feng, Lu; Moset, Veronica; Moller, Henrik Bjarne
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering & technology. Volume 41:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 761
• Page End: 767
• Publication Date: 2018-02-07
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion -- Batch assay -- Continuous biogas reactor -- Methane yield; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical processes -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201700497
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0930-7516

Abstract

Abstract: The measurement of methane potential during anaerobic digestion has generally been accomplished through batch assays. Yet, the majority of industrial plants employ a semi‐continuous feeding regime and the estimation of continuous process yield from batch data is not straightforward due to differences in kinetic rates. A simple method is examined whereby batch assays were set up with very high inoculum‐to‐substrate ratios (I:S) and the results applied to a model of mass flow through a continuous process. The results demonstrate that high I:S batch assays estimated the continuous process yield to within 2.5 % of the measured value. Abstract : Estimating the methane yield of substrates in continuous anaerobic digestion processes usually requires either complex substrate analysis or labor‐intensive laboratory‐scale continuous reactors. By modifying simple batch assays and applying the acquired kinetic rates and specific methane yields to mass flow models, satisfactory estimation of continuous process yields was achieved.