The settling characteristics and mean settling velocity of granular sludge in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)-like reactors.
Mean settling velocity of granular sludge in full-scale UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket) and EGSB (expanded granular sludge bed) reactors was evaluated by settling column tests, and a settling velocity model based on the experimental results and available literature data was developed. It is concluded that the settling velocity should be calculated by the Allen formula, because the settling process of the granules is in the category of intermediate flow regime rather than in the laminar flow one. The comparison between calculated and measured values of the settling velocity shows an excellent agreement, with an average relative error of 4.04%. A simple but reliable mathematical method to determine the settling velocity is therefore proposed.
Liu
Yong-Hong
YH
Department of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China. liuyhxa@hotmail.com
He
Yan-Ling
YL
Yang
Shu-Cheng
SC
Li
Yao-Zhong
YZ
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D012722:Sewage; D018508:Water Purification
D012722:Sewage