Anaerobic Digester

Product Description

Specification of Anaerobic Digester

• A bench top Anaerobic digestic for waste water treatment studies
• Equipped with two 5 litre packed bed, upward flow reactors
• Each reactor has gas sampling & collection facilities
• Reactors may be operated in series or parallel flow arrangement, using variable speed peristaltic pumps
• Feed flow rate to each reactor can be accurately & independantly controlled to any temperature between ambient and 55°C, using 200W heating jackets.
• Thermostatic cut-out set to 85°C .
• An instruction manual describing test and practical work capabilities, including details of a proven test substrate formulation is included.

The anaerobic digester comprises two 5 litre upward-flow packed bed reactors with feed rate and temperature control facilities to allow steady, continuous operation at up to seven litres per day over periods of many days.

The reactors may be operated in series or parallel. A buffer vessel between the reactors permits discharge of excess flow from the first reactor when the second reactor is operated in series but at a lower flow rate. The flow rates to the vessels are set and controlled by calibrated peristaltic pumps.

The temperature of each reactor is controlled by an electric heating mat wrapped around the external wall. The temperature distribution within each reactor is maintained to ±0.5°C. Reactor temperatures may be separately set at any desired value in the range ambient to 55°C.

The gas off-take from each reactor is taken to a volumetrically calibrated collector vessel operating by water displacement. A constant head, liquid seal device ensures that the gas pressure in the reactor is maintained at a constant value throughout the test run. The collected gas can be exhausted from the vessel and the volume re-filled with water during a run without breaking the liquid seal.

Liquid and gas sampling points are located at all strategic points around the reactors. Non-return valves and liquid seal syphon breaks are included in the process pipework to ensure each reactor operates at a constant volume without the ingress of air or the danger of accidental syphonic action.

The equipment is mounted on a vacuum formed plastic base with an integral drain channel to cope with spillages and wash down.