New methodology for calculating the production of biogas in livestock wastewater treatment systems

Abstract

In this work, a modelling and numerical simulation proposal has been developed with a free open-source software, Scilab. The learning proposal consists of the simulation of an anaerobic biodigester under continuous and discontinuous loading with an AM2 mathematical model based on two reactions, acidogenesis-acetogenesis, considering a Monod-type growth, and methanogenesis, with a Haldane-type growth. Anaerobic digestion has become a successful process for the stabilisation of wastewater with high organic load. The aim of this proposal is to be used in the practical training activities to be developed by the student in the context of some of the subjects of the University Degrees and Masters with competences in the area of environmental technology. In the simulations, the proposed model has proved to be an effective tool for the simulation of the anaerobic digestion process, it has proved to be an efficient system to reduce the organic load in wastewater and it is versatile as it allows to modify the design, quickly, depending on the future needs of the student or teacher that can be used to understand and learn the proposed objective.