The Performance of a Heat Exchanger Type Anaerobic Biofilm Reactor

The performance of a heat exchanger-type anaerobic biofilm reactor(HEABR) was theoretically and experimentally studied. The treatment of a relatively low-strength artificial wastewater was experimentally feasible for a range of wall temperatures varying from 25° C to 37° C, inlet temperatures varying from 5° C to 15° C and loading rates varying from 0.2g-C/l.day to 0.8 g-C/l.day. Removal efficiencies in the range of 70–98% were obtained. It was found that the performance of the reactor is strongly dependent on the wall temperatures and the hydraulic retention times and that the inlet temperature effect is smaller. A reactor model was developed which considers that a consecutive reaction occurs both in the biofilm and the bulk liquid where the bacteria exist. The effects of temperature on the reaction and diffusion rates of the primary substrate and the intermediate product are also considered. A good fit between the experimental and calculated results showed the validity of the model.