Dynamic simulation of cyclic batch anaerobic digestion of cattle manure

Cyclic batch reactors with periodical feeds and extractions, are often used in cattle manure anaerobic digestion. The dynamic behavior of this type of reactor was simulated in this study. The kinetic model developed by I. Angelidaki et al. [Biotechnol. Bioeng. 42 (1993) 159], together with microbial growth kinetics, conventional material balances for an ideally cyclic batch reactor, liquid–gas interactions, and liquid phase equilibrium chemistry were used in this study. The model showed good agreement with the experimental data of R.I. Mackie and M.P. Bryant [Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 43 (1995) 346], and R. Borja et al. [Chem. Eng. J. 54 (1994) B9]. The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate, reactant concentrations, feeding interval, and initial conditions such as pH and ammonia concentration on process performance can be evaluated by the dynamic model. Also simulation results show that the equilibrium conditions can be considered for CO2 distribution between liquid and gas phases, especially for processes with long retention times.