Resumen

MARTI-HERRERO, Jaime et al. Low cost carrier biofilm to improve anaerobic digestion in regions with cold weather with tubular digesters. RIIARn [online]. 2014, vol.1, n.1, pp. 81-91. ISSN 2409-1618.

The aim of this research is to evaluate the increase of biogas production with low cost tubular digesters in cold climates using PET rings inside the reactor. Two similar digesters have been operated and monitored in cold weather conditions and have been fed with cow manure. Digester 1 was filled with PET- rings as a biofilm carrier, Digester 2 was kept as a reference. Through the PET - rings the functional surface could be increased by a factor 4.2. The results show that 44% more biogas per KgSV has been produced with the biofilm carrier in use (0.33 m3/kgSV) (reference digester _0.23 m3/kgSV), at an organic load rate of 0.26 kgSV/m³/d. The thermal performance shows that with an adaptation of the low cost tubular digester the slurry temperature can be raised up to 16.6 °C (average) by surrounding temperature of 6.1 °C (average) without using any active heating system.

Palabras llave : Anaerobic digestion; Biofilm carrier; Solids retention time; Cold climate; Low cost tubular digester.