scholarly journals Enhancing Efficiency of Anaerobic Digestion by Optimization of Mixing Regimes Using Helical Ribbon Impeller

Fermentation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Buta Singh ◽  
Kornél L. Kovács ◽  
Zoltán Bagi ◽  
József Nyári ◽  
Gábor L. Szepesi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Simulation ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Anaerobic Digester ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Mixing Efficiency ◽  
Dead Zones ◽  
Helical Ribbon ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mixing Intensity

The appropriate mixing system and approach to effective management can provide favorable conditions for the highly sensitive microbial community, which can ensure process stability and efficiency in an anaerobic digester. In this study, the effect of mixing intensity on biogas production in a lab-scale anaerobic digester has been investigated experimentally and via modeling. Considering high mixing efficiency and unique feature of producing axial flow, helical ribbon (HR) impeller is used for mixing the slurry in this experiment under various conditions. Three parallel digesters were analyzed under identical operating conditions for comparative study and high accuracy. Effects of different mixing speeds (10, 30, and 67 rpm for 5 min h−1) on biogas production rate were determined in 5-L lab-scale digesters. The results demonstrated 15–18% higher biogas production at higher mixing speed (67 rpm) as compared to 10 rpm and 30 rpm and the results proved statistically significant (p < 0.05). Biogas production at 10, 30, and 67 rpm were 45.6, 48.6, and 52.5 L, respectively. Higher VFA concentrations (7.67 g L−1) were recorded at lower mixing intensity but there was no significant difference in pH and ammonia at different speeds whereas the better mixing efficiency at higher speeds was also the main reason for increase in biogas production. Furthermore, model simulation calculations revealed the reduction of dead zones and better homogeneous mixing at higher mixing speeds. Reduction of dead zones from 18% at 10 rpm to 2% at 67 rpm was observed, which can be the major factor in significant difference in biogas production rates at various mixing intensities. Optimization of digester and impeller geometry should be a prime focus to scale-up digesters and to optimize mixing in full-scale digesters.

scholarly journals Large Eddy Simulations of Reactive Mixing in Jet Reactors of Varied Geometry and Size

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Wojtas ◽  
Wojciech Orciuch ◽  
Łukasz Makowski
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Mixing Efficiency ◽  
Chemical Test ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Test Reactions ◽  
Reactive Mixing ◽  
Cfd Method

We applied large eddy simulation (LES) to predict the course of reactive mixing carried out in confined impinging jet reactors (CIJR). The reactive mixing process was studied in a wide range of flow rates both experimentally and numerically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We compared several different reactor geometries made in different sizes in terms of both reaction yields and mixing efficiency. Our LES model predictions were validated using experimental data for the tracer concentration distribution and fast parallel chemical test reactions, and compared with the k-ε model supplemented with the turbulent mixer model. We found that the mixing efficiency was not affected by the flow rate only at the highest tested Reynolds numbers. The experimental results and LES predictions were found to be in good agreement for all reactor geometries and operating conditions, while the k-ε model well predicted the trend of changes. The CFD method used, i.e., the modeling approach using closure hypothesis, was positively validated as a useful tool in reactor design. This method allowed us to distinguish the best reactors in terms of mixing efficiency (T-mixer III and V-mixer III) and could provide insights for scale-up and application in different processes.

scholarly journals Kinematic Analysis of a Clamp-Type Picking Device for an Automatic Pepper Transplanter

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Nafiul Islam ◽  
Md Zafar Iqbal ◽  
Mohammod Ali ◽  
Milon Chowdhury ◽  
Md Shaha Nur Kabir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kinematic Analysis ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Maximum Velocity ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
High Speed Photography ◽  
Virtual Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Simulation And Validation

Pepper is one of the most vital agricultural products with high economic value, and pepper production needs to satisfy the growing worldwide population by introducing automatic seedling transplantation techniques. Optimal design and dimensioning of picking device components for an automatic pepper transplanter are crucial for efficient and effective seedling transplantation. Therefore, kinematic analysis, virtual model simulation, and validation testing of a prototype were conducted to propose a best-suited dimension for a clamp-type picking device. The proposed picking device mainly consisted of a manipulator with five grippers and a picking stand. To analyze the influence of design variables through kinematic analysis, 250- to 500-mm length combinations were considered to meet the trajectory requirements and suit the picking workspace. Virtual model simulation and high-speed photography tests were conducted to obtain the kinematic characteristics of the picking device. According to the kinematic analysis, a 350-mm picking stand and a 380-mm manipulator were selected within the range of the considered combinations. The maximum velocity and acceleration of the grippers were recorded as 1.1, 2.2 m/s and 1.3, 23.7 m/s2, along the x- and y-axes, respectively, for 30 to 90 rpm operating conditions. A suitable picking device dimension was identified and validated based on the suitability of the picking device working trajectory, velocity, and acceleration of the grippers, and no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) occurred between the simulation and validation tests. This study indicated that the picking device under development would increase the pepper seedling picking accuracy and motion safety by reducing the operational time, gripper velocity, acceleration, and mechanical damage.

scholarly journals Critical Analysis of Methods Adopted for Evaluation of Mixing Efficiency in an Anaerobic Digester

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6668
Author(s):  
Buta Singh ◽  
Narinder Singh ◽  
Zsolt Čonka ◽  
Michal Kolcun ◽  
Zoltán Siménfalvi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Anaerobic Digester ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Hydrodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Mixing Efficiency ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Biochemical Engineering ◽  
Microbial Flocs ◽  
Hydrodynamic Shear

The effect of slurry mixing in an anaerobic digester on biogas production was intensively studied in the last few years. This subject is still debatable due to fact that this process involves three phases, solid-gas-liquid, along with the involvement of microbes during biochemical reactions, which are highly vulnerable to changes in hydrodynamic shear stresses and mixing conditions. Moreover, the complexity in the direction of optimization of mixing magnifies due to the implication of both fluid mechanics and biochemical engineering to study the effect of mixing in anaerobic digestion (AD). The effect of mixing on AD is explored using recent literature and theoretical analysis, concentrating on the multi-phase and multi-scale aspects of AD. The tools and methods available to experimentally quantify the function of mixing on both the global and local scales are summarized in this study. The major challenge for mixing in an anaerobic digester is to minimize dead zones and maintain uniform distribution of viscosity and shear at low mixing intensities without disrupting the microbial flocs and syntrophic relationships between the bacteria during the AD process. This study is a critical analysis of various techniques and approaches adopted by researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of mixing regimes and mixing equipment. Most studies describe biogas production performance and hydrodynamic characteristics of the digesters separately, but the evaluation of mixing requires interdisciplinary experts, which include mechanical engineers, microbiologists and hydrodynamic experts. Through this review, the readers will be guided through intensive literature regarding agitation, the best possible way to scrutinize the agitation problems and the approach to answering the question “why is the optimization of mixing in an anaerobic digester still a debatable subject?”.

scholarly journals Modelling Mechanically Induced Non-Newtonian Flows to Improve the Energy Efficiency of Anaerobic Digesters

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2995
Author(s):  
Andrew Oates ◽  
Thomas Neuner ◽  
Michael Meister ◽  
Duncan Borman ◽  
Miller Camargo-Valero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Consumption ◽  
Anaerobic Digester ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Total Solids ◽  
Helical Ribbon ◽  
Newtonian Flows ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Water Glycerol

In this paper, a finite volume based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been developed for investigating the mixing of non-Newtonian flows and operating conditions of an anaerobic digester. A CFD model using the multiple reference frame has been implemented in order to model the mixing in an anaerobic digester. Two different agitator designs have been implemented: a design currently used in a full-scale anaerobic mixing device, SCABA, and an alternative helical ribbon design. Lab-scale experiments have been conducted with these two mixing device designs using a water-glycerol mixture to replicate a slurry with total solids concentration of 7.5%, which have been used to validate the CFD model. The CFD model has then been scaled up in order to replicate a full-scale anaerobic digester under real operating parameters that is mechanically stirred with the SCABA design. The influence of the non-Newtonian behaviour has been investigated and found to be important for the power demand calculation. Furthermore, the other helical mixing device has been implemented at full scale and a case study comparing the two agitators has been performed; assessing the mixing capabilities and power consumption of the two designs. It was found that, for a total solids concentrations of 7.5%, the helical design could produce similar mixing capabilities as the SCABA design at a lower power consumption. Finally, the potential power savings of the more energy efficient helical design has been estimated if implemented across the whole of the United Kingdom (UK)/Austria.

Effect of hydraulic retention time on pretreatment of blended municipal sludge

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 967-973
Author(s):  
S. Koyunluoglu-Aynur ◽  
R. Riffat ◽  
S. Murthy
Keyword(s):  
Retention Time ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Municipal Sludge ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion ◽  
Pretreatment Processes

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on hydrolysis and acidogenesis for the pretreatment processes: acid phase digestion (APD) and autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) using blended municipal sludge. The effect of the different pretreatment steps on mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) was evaluated in terms of methane yield, keeping the operating conditions of the MAD the same for all systems. Best operating conditions for both APD and ATAD were observed for 2.5 d HRT with high total volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and the highest methane yield observed for MAD. No significant difference was observed between the two processes in terms of overall volatile solids (VS) reduction with same total HRT. The autothermal process produced heat of 14,300 J/g VS removed from hydrolytic and acetogenic reactions without compromising overall methane yields when the HRT was 2.5 d or lower and the total O2 used was 0.10 m3 O2/g VS added or lower. However, the process needs the input of oxygen and engineering analysis should balance these differences when considering the relative merits of the two pretreatment processes. This is the first study of its kind directly comparing these two viable pretreatment processes with the same sludge.

Assessment of the reliability of ionization current measurement in estimating peak pressure angle in a spark ignition engine

2021 ◽  
pp. 146808742110399
Author(s):  
Veniero Giglio ◽  
Livia Della Ragione ◽  
Alessandro di Gaeta ◽  
Natale Rispoli
Keyword(s):  
Peak Pressure ◽  
Angular Position ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Pressure Angle ◽  
Ionization Current ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Second Peak

Ionization current measured at the spark plug during combustion in spark ignition engines has often been proposed to determine the crank-angle at combustion pressure peak, namely the peak pressure angle, for the purpose of regulating spark timing to attain maximum brake torque (MBT). The proposal is based on the assumption that agreement exists between peak pressure angle and the angular position of the ionization current second peak, although no one has ever proved it by an appropriate statistical analysis. The aim of this work, for the first time and by rigorous statistical methods, is to prove the agreement between Peak Pressure Angle and Ionization Current Second Peak Angle (ICSPA), without which a MBT control via ICSPA would be ineffective. Our experimental database consisted of about 9000 pairs of Peak Pressure Angle and Ionization Current Second Peak Angle values corresponding to 90 different operating conditions of a spark ignition engine. A two-sample comparison was first carried out between mean values of Peak Pressure Angle and Ionization Current Second Peak Angle, which showed a statistically significant difference between them. Then Bland-Altman analysis (Lancet, 1986), widely known and used for checking agreement between two different measurement methods, was conducted. It demonstrated that under almost all the experimental operating conditions, there was no agreement between the Ionization Current Second Peak Angle and the Peak Pressure Angle.

scholarly journals Modification of Cassava Starch Using Lactic Acid Hydrolysis in The Rotary-UV Dryer to Improve Physichocemical Properties

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 01018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siswo Sumardiono ◽  
Bakti Jos ◽  
Denny Firmansyah ◽  
Rahmi Hidayatunajah ◽  
Isti Pudjihastuti
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Acid Hydrolysis ◽  
Wheat Flour ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Import Substitution ◽  
Cassava Starch ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Optimum Operating ◽  
Modified Starch ◽  
Significant Difference

Food security should be supported in an effort to utilize local products into import substitution products. Cassava starch has the potential to be developed into semi-finished products in the form of flour or starch which does not contain gluten but can inflate large baking process, potentially as a substitute for wheat flour-the main ingredient for making bread. The characteristic of the starch is influenced by the type of starch composition and structure. Natural starch has physicochemical properties i.e. a long time cooking and pasta formed hard. These constraints allow us to modify cassava starch by a combination of lactic acid hydrolysis and drying with rotary UV system. Modified cassava starch is expected to be used as a substitute for wheat flour. The aim of the research which is a combination of lactic acid hydrolysis and drying using a rotary UV system is to examine the optimum operating conditions in the drying process of starch hydrolysis with parameter the physicochemical and rheological properties of modified cassava starch. The initial process study is to hydrolyze cassava starch using lactic acid. Furthermore, hydrolyzed cassava starch is then dried using UV light in the rotary dryers system. There are a variety of changing variables, i.e. time of irradiation cassava starch-lactic acid hydrolysis products in the rotary UV light and air drying temperature. The research results show that modified starch has a better characteristic than the natural starch. From the analysis, the best point of swelling power, solubility and baking expansion is consequently 15.62 g/g; 24.19 %; 2.21 ml/gr. The FTIR result shows that there is no significant difference of the chemical structure because the starch modification only change the physical characteristics. From the SEM analysis, we can know that the size of the starch’s granule changes between the natural starch and the modified starch..

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