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Abstract: |
In this paper, an innovative
complex numerical model is proposed for simulating the
anaerobic biogas production potential of organic waste
materials both for full-scale anaerobic plant design and
operation decisions and for laboratory and pilot scale
co-digestion research. The model facilitates, in particular,
the understanding of co-digestion and mixture effects by
application of uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis.
This allows multi-dimensional parameter analysis so that
uncertainties and the main sensitivities can be identified
among the model parameters, with a special focus on those
leading to digester failure. The initial application of the
complex model to ongoing lab-scale anaerobic co-digestion
processes revealed that the hydrolysis and acidogenesis
phases are the most affecting steps of the methane
production. In particular, the following parameters have
been found to contribute the most to the variance of the
complex model’s estimate of methane production: polymer
hydrolysis rate; specific acidogens maximum growth rate;
saturation constant for acidogens, the specific acetoclastic
methanogens maximum growth rate; saturation constant for
acetoclastic methanogens; and the gas-liquid mass transfer
coefficient for methane. |
