title: On-line measurement of gas production rates.
abstract: Gas evolution rates represent an important variable to track in biological and certain electrochemical processes. Accurate gas flow rate sensors exist for gas streams possessing a pressure head, such as when pressurized air or oxygen is delivered to a fermentation process. However, these devices impose pressure heads that can inhibit gas production and, therefore, yield false measurements. Examples of effected processes would include electrochemical production of a gas at the electrode (e.g., electrolysis) or anaerobic fermentation (e.g., anaerobic production of methane). In this work, we present an on-line gas measurement technique that measures on-line gas production from an anaerobic microbial process that is continuously fed simulated food waste over a 6-month period. Commentary is given on the sensor's accuracy and ease of use within the context of long-term operation, ability to measure both low and high gas production rates, as well as its potential for process control and system-health monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road POST 109, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. mcooney@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maynard
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cannizzaro
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000737:chemistry*; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002138:Calibration; D003201:Computers; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005285:Fermentation; D005740:Gases; D007700:Kinetics; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D010100:Oxygen