PROCESS SIMULATION MODEL FOR ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

ABSTRACT In this study, a novel process simulation model (PSM) was developed for anaerobic digestion using Aspen Plus (version 7.3.2). PSM has two parts, one for hydrolysis working based on extent of reaction and the other on kinetics of reactions. A total of 53 reactions were used in the model including inhibitions, rate kinetics, pH, ammonia, volume and HRT. Each reaction set in the kinetic reactor has a FORTRAN program to calculate the kinetics of biogas production. PSM was validated with earlier research studies and industrial experiments in Aspen Plus. The P-value after statistical analysis was found to be 0.324, which showed there was no significant difference between different validations, even after a change in process conditions, loading rate, HRT and substrate. The sensitivity analysis with a ±10% change in composition and extent of reaction would result in average 4.56 % higher value than the experimental value