Physically modeling of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB)

Hydraulic studies Wastewater Treatment Plants Works on field are complex and expensive. An alternative to have done these studies is by building a up a calibrated physical model to simulate the conditions of similarity to the prototype. The aim of this study was a physical modeling to simulate flow at UASB pattern and to observe whether or not agreement are found prototype with it. The methodology involved in the design, calculation of relative length relations and construction, using a reduced scale of 1:8 between the prototype and physical model (PM). The reactor was fed with municipal wastewater flooding from collector C of the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Tracer study with Li+ (LiCl) was used either prototype reactor (UASB) located in Ginebra, Colombia. Geometric similarities were achieved with a ratio of relative length (L-r) of 0.1239 and similarity kinematics for a speed and acceleration, dynamic was found by using the Peclet number. Match distribution of residence time (DTR) to a theoretical hydraulic retention time (t(o)) for 5 h was found with a coefficient of determination adjusted (R-a(2)) to 0.928. Hydraulic efficiencies (beta) obtained were ranged from 0.798 to 0.988 in the MF and from 0.902 to 0.943 in the prototype, exceeding that obtained instabilization ponds (0.17 to 67%).