Model-based design of a software sensor for real-time diagnosis of the stability conditions in high-rate anaerobic reactors - Full-scale application to Internal Circulation technology

摘要

Internal Circulation (IC) anaerobic systems are especially suitable when plant designs that involve both small footprints and high organic loading rates (25 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)) are required. However, given that operating anaerobic processes at high organic loads increases their vulnerability to external disturbances, real-time indicators of the stability conditions become particularly pertinent for IC reactors. This paper addresses the design and full-scale validation of a software sensor that uses only feeding flow-rate and biogas flow-rate measurements to classify the operating conditions of the reactor as "strongly", "moderately" or "weakly" stable. A simulation-based procedure was used to design the software sensor and configure its parameters. Then, the performance of the software sensor was tested under real conditions in a full-scale IC reactor of 1679 m(3) installed in a recycled paper mill (RPM). (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.