Hydrodynamics and mass transfer coefficient in activated sludge aerated stirred column reactor: Experimental analysis and modeling

The aerated stirred reactor (ASR) has been widely used in biochemical and wastewater treatment processes. The information describing how the activated sludge properties and operation conditions affect the hydrodynamics and mass transfer coefficient is missing in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of flow regime, superficial gas velocity (U-G), power consumption unit (P/V-L), sludge loading, and apparent viscosity (pap) of activated sludge fluid on the mixing time (t(m)), gas hold-up (epsilon), and volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) in an activated sludge aerated stirred column reactor (ASCR). The activated sludge fluid performed a non-Newtonian rheological behavior. The sludge loading significantly affected the fluid hydrodynamics and mass transfer. With an increase in the UG and P/V-L, the epsilon and k(L)a increased, and the t(m), decreased. The E, kLa, and tm,were influenced dramatically as the flow regime changed from homogeneous to heterogeneous patterns. The proposed mathematical models predicted the experimental results well under experimental conditions, indicating that the U-G, P/V-L, and mu(ap) had significant impact on the t(m) epsilon, and k(L)a. These models were able to give the tm, F, and kLa values with an error around +/- 8%, and always less than +/- 10%. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Flow regime, hydrodynamics, floc size distribution and sludge properties in activated sludge bubble column, air-lift and aerated stirred reactors

This paper presents a comparative study how reactor configuration, sludge loading and air flowrate affect flow regimes, hydrodynamics, floc size distribution and sludge solids-liquid separation properties. Three reactor configurations were studied in bench scale activated sludge bubble column reactor (BCR), air-lift reactor (ALR) and aerated stirred reactor (ASR). The ASR demonstrated the highest capacity of gas holdup and resistance, and homogeneity in flow regimes and shearing forces, resulting in producing large numbers of small and compact floes. The fluid dynamics in the ALR created regularly directed recirculation forces to enhance the gas holdup and sludge flocculation. The BCR distributed a high turbulent flow regime and non-homogeneity in gas holdup and mixing, and generated large numbers of larger and looser floes. The sludge size distributions, compressibility and settleability were significantly influenced by the reactor configurations associated with the flow regimes and hydrodynamics.

Study on methane hydration process in a semi-continuous stirred tank reactor

The methane hydration process is investigated in a semi-continuous stirred tank reactor. Liquid temperatures and reaction rates without stirrer are compared with those occurring with stirrer, while at the same time better stirring conditions of the methane hydration process are given by the experiments. Some basic data of fluid mechanics, for example, stirring Reynolds number, Froucle number and stirrer power, are calculated during the methane hydration process, which can be applied to evaluate stirrer capacity and provide some basic data for a scaled up reactor. Based on experiment and calculations in this work, some conclusions are drawn. First, the stirrer has great influence on the methane hydration process. Batch stirring is helpful to improve the mass transfer and heat transfer performances of the methane hydration process. Second, induction time can be shortened effectively by use of the stirrer. Third, in this paper, the appropriate stirring velocity and stirring time were 320 rpm and 30 min, respectively, at 5.0 MPa, for which the storage capacity and reaction time were 159.1 V/V and 370 min, respectively. Under the condition of the on-flow state, the initial stirring Reynolds number of the fluid and the stirring power were 12,150 and 0.54 W, respectively. Fourth, some suggestions, for example, the use of another type of stirrer or some baffles, are proposed to accelerate the methane hydration process. Comparing with literature data, higher storage capacity and hydration rate are achieved in this work. Moreover, some fluid mechanics parameters are calculated, which can provide some references to engineering application.

Synthesis of Structured Lipids by Enzymatic Interesterification of Milkfat and Soybean Oil in a Basket-Type Stirred Tank Reactor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chemical Reactors. Problem 2: Constant pressure adiabatic stirred batch reactor with variable heat capacities (2011-2012 Course)

Wording of problem 2 (week 3, 17/10/11).

Chemical Reactors. Problem 2: Constant pressure adiabatic stirred batch reactor with variable heat capacities. Solution (2011-2012 Course)

Chemical Reaction Engineering. Course 2011-12. Solution of problem 2: constant pressure adiabatic stirred batch reactor with variable heat capacities.

Gas-liquid simulation of an airlift bubble column reactor

The simulation of two-phase flow for an experimental airlift reactor (32-l volume) using commercially available software from Fluent Incorporated is presented here (http://www.fluent.co.uk). Data from the simulation is compared with the experimental data obtained by the tracking of a magnetic particle and analysis of the pressure drop to determine the gas hold-up. Comparisons between vertical velocity and gas hold-up were made for a series of experiments where the superficial gas velocity in the riser was adjusted between 0.01 and 0.075 m s-1. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three-dimensional gas-liquid simulation of an airlift bubble column reactor

Basic hydrodynamic parameters of an airlift reactor with internal loop were estimated experimentally and simulated using commercially available CFD software from Fluent. Circulation velocity in a 32-dm(3)-airlift reactor was measured using the magnetic tracer method, meanwhile the gas hold-up was obtained by analysis of the pressure drop using the method of inverted U-tube manometers. Comparison of simulated (in two and three dimensions) and experimental data was performed at different superficial gas velocities in the riser.

Oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid in a sparger reactor

The kinetics of oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid was studied in a sparger reactor using manganese acetate as the catalyst. Data obtained in a stirred tank reactor are used for analyzing the sparger reactor data. The rate of chemical reaction is extremely fast and can be neglected for the rate equation of the sparger reactor. A kinetic model applicable at any temperature and concentration within the range of the variables studied is developed which predicts the performance of the sparger reactor satisfactorily.

垃圾渗滤液场外硝化－原位反硝化脱氮协同填埋场温室气体减排

垃圾卫生填埋是国内外城市垃圾的主要处置方法。垃圾渗滤液是渗入填埋场垃圾的降水混合垃圾降解过程中产生的物质而形成的混合物，是垃圾填埋场向环境排放的主要污染物。渗滤液由于其所含高浓度有机和无机污染物，且其中很多物质有生物毒性或难生物降解，难于治理。特别是到填埋晚期，渗滤液中高浓度的氨氮更是增加了治理的难度。渗滤液场外硝化－原位反硝化是填埋场氮管理的新途径。本文利用从环境中筛选出优势硝化功能菌对渗滤液中的高浓度氨氮进行生物硝化，经硝化后的渗滤液回灌至以垃圾柱模拟的生物反应器填埋场，在填埋场内实现原位反硝化。 上述目标通过以下两部分来实现： 第一部分：渗滤液场外硝化。首先从污水厂的硝化污泥中富集并筛选出硝化功能菌，在模拟氨氮废水中优化。将驯化的硝化功能菌接种于连续式完全混合反应器（CSTR）进行高氨氮渗滤液硝化研究。在200余天的连续运行中，反应器硝化和有机物去除效果良好。在最大氨氮负荷和有机物负荷分别为0.65 g N l-1 d-1 和3.84 g COD l-1 d-1时，氨氮和COD去除率分别高于99%和57%。实验过程中发现，游离氨（FA）和溶解氧（DO）浓度对反应器中亚硝酸盐的积累影响很大。 第二部分：渗滤液原位反硝化。本文利用一个垃圾填充柱模拟生物反应器填埋场，研究了硝化渗滤液回灌对垃圾降解的影响，和回灌的硝化渗滤液中TON（总氧化态氮）对填埋场生物反应器产甲烷作用的影响。最后利用变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）分析了硝化渗滤液回灌对垃圾填埋场菌群结构的影响。结果表明：回灌的TON被完全还原，反硝化为主要反应，最大TON负荷为28.6 mg N kg-1 TS d-1。当垃圾柱TON负荷大于11.4 mg N kg-1 TS d-1时，出现了产甲烷抑制，抑制作用随TON负荷的增加而加强。在此过程中，反硝化逐渐代替产甲烷作用成为填埋场内垃圾降解的主要反应，且更多产生的是清洁的氮气，而非温室气体甲烷。直到实验结束时，回灌硝化渗滤液的垃圾柱的甲烷产量仅相当于对照的2.5%，并且回灌的硝化渗滤液还加速了填埋场垃圾的降解与稳定。通过DGGE进行菌群结构分析发现，由于TON对填埋场的长期作用，反硝化菌增多而产甲烷菌减少。 Landfill still remains the chief method for MSW management around the world. Leachate is a mixture of rainfall permeating through landfill and organic and inorganic matters generated during decomposition of the wastes in the landfills, characterized as highly complicated and refractory wastewater. Ex-situ nitrification and sequential in-situ denitrification represents a novel approach to nitrogen management at landfills. In the present paper, nitrification was carried out in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) inoculated with nitrifying bacteria which were isolated from municipal WWTP of Chengdu city. The nitrified leachate from CSTR was recirculated to a lab-scale municipal solid waste (MSW) column where in-situ denitrification took place. The above object was achived through two parts as following: First, ex-situ nitification of leachate. After acclimated in simulated wastewater for 3 month, nitrifying bacteria isolated from WWTP nitrifying sludge were added to the CSTR for nitrification. The results over 200 days showed that the maximum nitrogen loading rate (NLR) and the maximum organic loading rate (OLR) was 0.65 g N l-1 d-1 and 3.84 g COD l-1 d-1, respectively. The ammonia and COD removal was over 99% and 57%, respectively. Moreover, the effects of free ammonia (FA) and dissolved oxygen (DO) on nitrification were investigated. Second, in-situ denitrification was studied in a municipal solid waste (MSW) column. Variation of nitrified leachate and its effects on the decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW) were studied in a lab-scale MSW column to which nitrified leachate was recirculated. Additionally, DGGE was employed to investigate the microbial community of both MSW columns. The results suggested: complete reduction of total oxidized nitrogen (TON) was obtained with maximum TON load of 28.6 mg N kg-1 TS d-1 and denitrification was the main reaction responsible. Methanogenesis inhibition was observed while TON load was over 11.4 mg N kg-1 TS d-1 and the inhibition was enhanced with the increase of TON load. Denitrification gradually took over methanogenesis to become the main reaction responsible for decomposition of MSW while nitrogen gas, a clean byproduct, was generated instead. Till the end of the experiment, the average weekly methane production in the denitrification column was as low as 2.5% of that of the control, and the rate of decompition and stability of MSW was accelerated by the recirculation of the nitrified leachate.Owing to long term exposure of nitrified leachate to landfill, denitrifying bacteria increased and methanogen decreased.