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Optimize Flue Gas Settings to Promote Microalgae Growth in Photobioreactors via Computer Simulations
Published on: October 1, 2013
Performance evaluation of a control strategy for photosynthetic biogas upgrading in a semi-industrial scale
María Del Rosario Rodero1, Andrea Carvajal2, Zouhayr Arbib3
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n., Valladolid 47011, Spain; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
Abstract:
The validation of a control strategy for biogas upgrading via light-driven CO2 consumption by microalgae and H2S oxidation by oxidizing bacteria using the oxygen photosynthetically generated was performed in a semi-industrial scale (9.6 m3) photobioreactor. The control system was able to support CO2 concentrations lower than 2% with O2 contents ≤ 1% regardless of the pH in the cultivation broth (ranging from 9.05 to 9.50). Moreover, the control system was efficient to cope with variations in biogas flowrate from 143 to 420 L h-1, resulting in a biomethane composition of CO2 < 2.4%, CH4 > 95.5%, O2 < 1% and no H2S. Despite the poor robustness of this technology against failures in biogas and liquid supply (CH4 concentration of 67.5 and 70.9% after 2 h of biogas or liquid stoppage, respectively), the control system was capable of restoring biomethane quality in less than 2 h when biogas or liquid supply was resumed.
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