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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Continuously-stirred Anaerobic Digester to Convert Organic Wastes into Biogas: System Setup and Basic Operation
Published on: July 13, 2012
Lessons learnt from 15 years of ICA in anaerobic digesters
J P Steyer1, O Bernard, D J Batstone
1Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, LBE-INRA, Av. des Etangs, 11100 Narbonne, France. steyer@ensam.inra.fr
Abstract:
Anaerobic digestion plants are highly efficient wastewater treatment processes with inherent energy production. Despite these advantages, many industries are still reluctant to use them because of their instability confronted with changes in operating conditions. There is therefore great potential for application of instrumentation, control and automation (ICA) in the field of anaerobic digestion. This paper will discuss the requirements (in terms of on-line sensors needed, modelling efforts and mathematical complexity) but also the advantages and drawbacks of different control strategies that have been applied to AD high rate processes over the last 15 years.
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