Linking CFD and kinetic models in anaerobic digestion using a compartmental model approach

Understanding mixing behavior and its impact on conversion processes is essential for the operational stability and conversion efficiency of anaerobic digestion (AD). Mathematical modelling is a powerful tool to achieve this. Direct linkage of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the kinetic model is, however, computationally expensive, given the stiffness of the kinetic model. Therefore, this paper proposes a compartmental model (CM) approach, which is derived from a converged CFD solution to understand the performance of AD under non-ideal mixing conditions and with spatial variation of substrates, biomass, pH, and specific biogas and methane production. To quantify the effect of non-uniformity on the reactor performance, the CM implements the Anaerobic Digestion Model 1 (ADM1) in each compartment. It is demonstrated that the performance and spatial variation of the biochemical process in a CM are significantly different from a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) assumption. Hence, the assumption of complete mixed conditions needs attention concerning the AD performance prediction and biochemical process non-uniformities