Biopaq®ICX: The next generation high rate anaerobic reactor proves itself at full scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 802-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. G. Hendrickx ◽  
B. Pessotto ◽  
R. Prins ◽  
L. Habets ◽  
J. Vogelaar
Keyword(s):  
Full Scale ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Internal Circulation ◽  
Anaerobic Reactor ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Biomass Retention ◽  
Retention Device ◽  
Volumetric Loading

Abstract The ICX (Internal Circulation eXperience) is the next generation high rate anaerobic reactor. The unique design with a two-stage phase separation device enables excellent biomass retention. The novel biomass retention device allows for high volumetric loading rates to be applied compared to IC (internal circulation) and UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed) reactors. Since the first demonstration test in 2013, more than 70 full scale ICX reactors have been built, ranging in size from 85 to 5,000 m3. This paper presents the results of the first ICX demonstration reactor (85 m3) and from a full scale ICX reference (350 m3). These results confirm that very high volumetric loading rates can be achieved with the ICX, whilst maintaining a stable and high COD removal efficiency. Biomass growth is clearly demonstrated in both the demonstration reactor and in the full scale reference, proving that efficient biomass retention is achieved in the ICX.

Methanogenic granule development in full scale internal circulation reactors

1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 9-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. F. Pereboom ◽  
T. L. F. M. Vereijken
Keyword(s):  
Loading Rate ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Internal Circulation ◽  
Methanogenic Activity ◽  
Average Shear ◽  
Biomass Retention ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Internal Circulation (IC) reactors can be operated at higher reactor volume loading rates than Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors. This results in increased gas production rates and subsequently higher average shear rates in IC-reactors. Furthermore, the liquid upflow velocity is 8-20 times higher, still granules develop successfully in IC-reactors. To investigate the granule development in IC-reactors and elucidate the process limitations with respect to granule development and biomass retention, granule samples from three full scale IC-reactors are characterized. Characterization included size distribution, strength, settling velocity, density, ash content and methanogenic activity. Granules were compared with samples from UASB reactors treating similar types of wastewaters. A hydrodynamic model was developed to describe the liquid circulation in IC reactors. The average shear rate in IC reactors is approximately twice as high compared to UASB-reactors. The two stage design of the IC-reactor allows 3-6 times higher loading rate. The experimental results showed that IC-granules are larger than UASB-granules grown on similar wastewater, while the strength of IC-granules is lower as a result of the higher sludge loading rate. Although wash-out is slightly enhanced in IC-reactors, the conditions in the second stage are tranquil enough to ensure adequate biomass retention in IC-reactors. The development of characteristic IC-granules after seeding proceeds within a few months. Physical characteristics of granules are determined mainly by biological factors.

Effective Anaerobic Bio-Treatment of Fresh Leachate From Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Plant by Full-Scale Internal Circulation Reactor

2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Wang ◽  
Zhenxing Huang ◽  
Hongyan Ren ◽  
Hengfeng Miao ◽  
Minxing Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Internal Circulation ◽  
Biogas Yield ◽  
Cod Removal Efficiency ◽  
Effluent Recirculation

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the full-scale internal circulation (IC) reactor in biodegrading of municipal solid waste (MSW) fresh leachate under mesophilic conditions, where the anaerobic process stability, biogas yield, and sludge granulation were intensively investigated. The effects of operational parameters on the influent organic loading rate (OLR), chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, alkalinity (ALK), pH, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation, and effluent recirculation were also studied. The results showed that the reactor operated stably and effectively. The COD removal efficiency and biogas yield could be maintained at (92.8 ± 2.0)% and (0.47 ± 0.05) m3/kg CODremoval, respectively, with the influent OLR (24.5 ± 0.9) kg COD/(m3 d) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) 2.7d during the stable operation phase. Meanwhile, this study demonstrated that 1.5–3.0 m/h would be the optimal Vup for the reactor, corresponding to the effluent recirculation of 32.5–78.0 m3/h. Moreover, it was found that the content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the anaerobic sludge increased from 50.3 to 140.7 mg/g volatile suspended solids (VSS), and the sludge had good granular performance during the reactor operation.

Advanced Reactor Design, Operation and Economy

1986 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gatze Lettinga ◽  
Look Hulshoff Pol
Keyword(s):  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Granular Sludge ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Internal Circulation ◽  
Inlet System ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Feed Inlet

Of the high rate anaerobic wastewater treatment systems the UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor has found the widest application. Therefore the attention with respect to design, operation and economy will be focussed on this reactor type. In designing a UASB reactor specific attention is needed for the GSS (Gas-Solids Separator) device and the feed inlet system. For soluble wastewater generally no phase separation is required. Only for wastewaters high in suspended solids pre-acidification in a separate acidification reactor can be beneficial. Increasing attention is given to the development of modified UASB systems, such as a combination of a sludge bed reactor and an anaerobic filter. Other possible modified UASB systems may be found in a FS (Floating Settling) UASB reactor, the EGSB (Expanded Granular Sludge Bed) reactor and the UASB IC (Internal Circulation) reactor. As many factors are involved in the costs of a UASB reactor, only some rough data on reactor costs are presented.

The influence of calcium on granular sludge in a full-scale UASB treating paper mill wastewater

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Batstone ◽  
J. Landelli ◽  
A. Saunders ◽  
R.I. Webb ◽  
L.L. Blackall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Granular Sludge ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
High Calcium ◽  
Partial Linear

Calcium precipitation can have a number of effects on the performance of high-rate anaerobic performance including cementing of the sludge bed, limiting diffusion, and diluting the active biomass. The aim of this study was to observe the influence of precipitation in a stable full-scale system fed with high-calcium paper factory wastewater. Granules were examined from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (volume 1,805 m3) at a recycled paper mill with a loading rate of 5.7–6.6 kgCOD.m−3.d−1 and influent calcium concentration of 400–700 gCa.m−3. The granules were relatively small (1 mm), with a 200–400 μm core of calcium precipitate as observed with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Compared to other granules, Methanomicrobiales not Methanobacteriales were the dominant hydrogen or formate utilisers, and putative acidogens were filamentous. The strength of the paper mill fed granules was very high when compared to granules from other full-scale reactors, and a partial linear correlation between granule strength and calcium concentration was identified.

A Pilot-Scale Evaluation of the ‘Biocarbone Process' for the Treatment of Settled Sewage and for Tertiary Nitrification of Secondary Effluent

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 305-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Dillon ◽  
V. K. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Secondary Effluent ◽  
Scale Evaluation ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
N Removal ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Volumetric Loading

The BIOCARBONE process is a recently developed method for wastewater treatment. High concentrations of active biomass attach to an expanded shale medium in an aerated, packed-bed filter. High-rate biological treatment and in-situ removal of suspended solids are claimed as advantages of the process. The pilot-scale evaluation aimed to assess the performance of the process and its economic feasibility for use in the UK. Carbonaceous oxidation of settled sewage and tertiary nitrification of secondary effluent were investigated in two pilot-scale reactors. Carbonaceous oxidation produced a good-quality effluent at volumetric loading rates up to 4.1 kg BOD5/m3.d (9.2 kg COD/m3,d). Automatic backwashing of the filter was required and problems were encountered with blockages of the process aeration grid. Tertiary nitrification achieved greater than 90% ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) removal at volumetric loading rates up to 0.58 kg NH3-N/m3.d (0.63 kg KJN/m3.d). The economic evaluation indicated that costs of sewage treatment using the BIOCARBONE process would be comparable to those of the activated sludge process for sewage treatment works greater than 50,000 population equivalent. The results show that the BIOCARBONE process is suitable for both the carbonaceous oxidation of settled sewage and the tertiary nitrification of secondary effluent. The process may be an economic option for large sewage treatment works in the UK.

Comparing the performance of UASB and GRABBR treating low strength wastewaters

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Shanmugam ◽  
J. C. Akunna
Keyword(s):  
High Strength ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Low Strength ◽  
Equal Capacity ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
The Comparative Study

Anaerobic technologies have proved successful in the treatment of various high strength wastewaters with perceptible advantages over aerobic systems. The applicability of anaerobic processes to treat low strength wastewaters has been increasing with the evolution of high-rate reactors capable of achieving high sludge retention time (SRT) when operating at low HRT. However, the performance of these systems can be affected by high variations in flow and wastewater composition. This paper reports on the comparative study carried out with two such high rate reactors systems to evaluate their performances when used for the treatment of low strength wastewaters at high hydraulic rates. One of the two systems is the most commonly used upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor in which all reactions occur within a single vessel. The other is the granular bed baffled reactor (GRABBR) that encourages different stages of anaerobic digestion in separate vessels longitudinally across the reactor. The reactors, with equal capacity of 10 litres, were subjected to increasing organic loading rates (OLRs) and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of up to 60 kg COD m−3 d−1 and 1 h respectively. Results show that the GRABBR has greater processes stability at relatively low HRTs, whilst the UASB seems to be better equipped to cope with organic overloads or shockloads. The study also shows that the GRABBR enables the harvesting of biogas with greater energetic value and hence greater re-use potential than the UASB. Biogas of up to 86% methane content is obtainable with GRABBR treating low strength wastewaters.

Overall estimation of mesophilic high-rate anaerobic sludge digestion in internal circulation anaerobic digester integrated with sewage source heat pump

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Jiang ◽  
J. Wu ◽  
L. Tian ◽  
L. Shi ◽  
Z. P. Cao
Keyword(s):  
Heat Pump ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Anaerobic Digester ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Internal Circulation ◽  
Biogas Yield ◽  
Coal Boiler ◽  
Sewage Source

Sewage source heat pump was integrated with internal circulation anaerobic digester (ICAD) to decrease the treatment cost of waste activated sludge. In the experiment, mesophilic digestion in ICAD was combined with thermal treatment at 60 °C with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 day as pretreatment. The heat pump supplied heat recovering from the effluent of the wastewater treatment plant. The energy consumed by the heat pump was 39.2 and 48.6% less than the gas boiler and coal boiler respectively at a given amount of supplied heat. When the HRT of digestion was 10 days, the average total VSS removal and biogas yield rates of the system were 58.8% and 1.33 m3 · kgVSS−1 respectively. The integration of ICAD and sewage source heat pump offers a low-cost sludge treatment process with satisfactory organic removal.

On Site High Rate UASB Anaerobic Demonstration Plant Treatment of NSSC Wastewater

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. H. A. Habets ◽  
M. H. Tielbaard ◽  
A. M. D. Ferguson ◽  
C. F. Prong ◽  
A. J. Chmelauskas
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Granular Sludge ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Wastewater Quality ◽  
Demonstration Plant

Results of a 19 m3 demonstration plant studies are summarized. The plant is located at Sturgeon Falls at a NSSC mill and hardboard plant owned by MacMillan Bloedel. The mill discharges 6300 m3/day of waste effluent containing 50 tonnes of BOD and 127 tonnes of COD. Lab scale testing (1983) and an 18 month 1.4 m3 reactor volume pilot plant study (1985) were completed confirming treatability of the wastewater and suitability of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) technology among others to successfully treat the mill wastewater. Discharged effluent contains spent sulphite liquor and primary clarifier effluent. As required, the 1.4 m3 Biopaq System successfully achieved BOD reductions in excess of 75 percent at loadings greater than 10 kg COD/m3.d. As a consequence of this and because of economic considerations, the Biopaq System of Paques-Lavalin was selected for on site demonstration during a 12 months period. This period started in spring 1986. Erection of a full-scale plant is planned to take place in 1988. The purpose of the on site demonstration study is to confirm wastewater treatability, optimize design loading rates and confirm granular sludge growth. To achieve the objectives and simulate full-scale operating conditions the MacMillan Bloedel pilot plant has been automated and is controlled via a microprocessor incorporating a customized software program. Start-up performance results and operation at incremental loadings under steady state conditions are presented together with the experience gained during extreme variations in mill effluent quality and flow. Preliminary study results from the first 10 months disclose that a BOD removal efficiency of 80 percent or better is achieved at weekly average loadings of 15 kg COD/m3.d, and the process offers strong resilience to daily swings in wastewater quality. The results also show a net accumulation of granular sludge. The practical application of this technology from a mill operating perspective is discussed, and the layout for a full-scale installation with projected capital and operating costs is provided. Most of the contents of this paper was presented at the Tappi 1987 Environmental Conference (Prong etal, 1987). This paper presents the latest results.

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