Wu. B,. E.L. Bibeau and K.G. Gebremedhin. 2009. Threediniensiitnal
numerical simulation model oí biogas production for
anaerobic di}>t'sters. Canadian Biosystems Enginccring/Le gcnic
des biosysièmes nu Canada, x.l-x.l. A Ihree-diniensional numerical
simulation model that predicts biogas production from a
plug-flow anaerobic digester is developed. Tbe model is based on
the principles ol" conservation of mass, conservation ot" energy.
and species Iransport. A first-order kinetic model is used to
predict the forward reaction rate in the digestion process. A userdcfmed
function for computing the source terms of the reaction
rate in the species transport is developed. CFD (computational
Huid dynamics) simulations are conducted using Fluent 6.1 to
predict the temperature profiles and concentration distributions
in the digester. Model prediction is checked against measured
biogas production obtained from the literature. The predicted
and measured results agree within 5%. Biogas production
sensitivity to chemical reaction rales is numerically determined.
This simplified first-order kinetic model is part of an overall
effort to develop a three-dimensional numerical model that can
link digester-process controls, fluid How conditions and anaerobic
digestion for different digester design, climatic conditions and
manure compositions.