Attainable regions and fuzzy multi-criteria decisions: Modeling a novel configuration of methane bioreactor using experimental limits of operation

F Abunde Neba; Nana Y Asiedu; Ahmad Addo; Razak Seidu

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122273

Attainable regions and fuzzy multi-criteria decisions: Modeling a novel configuration of methane bioreactor using experimental limits of operation

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Jan:295:122273. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122273. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Authors

F Abunde Neba¹, Nana Y Asiedu², Ahmad Addo³, Razak Seidu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Institute for Marine Operations and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Ålesund, Norway. Electronic address: fabricen@stud.ntnu.no.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
³ Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
⁴ Institute for Marine Operations and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Ålesund, Norway.

PMID: 31677522
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122273

Abstract

This study sets out to develop an approach that couples attainable regions and fuzzy multicriteria decision methods for modeling optimal configurations of multistage digesters without using a kinetic model of the process. The approach is based on geometric analysis of methane curves as their shapes contain valuable insight into substrate biodegradability characteristics during anaerobic digestion. With the case study of abattoir waste, the results indicate that the optimal batch operation policy involves four anaerobic sequencing batch reactors operated in series with fresh feed being added at the second and the four stages (fed-batch systems). For continuous mode operation, the optimal configuration involves a continuous stirred tank digester with bypass from feed followed by an anaerobic baffled digester, which has been used to obtain a novel prototype. The methodological framework presented in this study can be adopted to enhance design of multistage anaerobic digesters especially when reliable kinetic models are unavailable.

Keywords: Abattoir waste; Attainable regions; Multi-criteria decision methods; Multi-stage anaerobic digestion; Novel digester prototype.

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Bioreactors*
Methane*

Substances

Methane