Research Article Open Access

Simulation of Hydrodynamic Behaviour and Mixing Pattern in Tubular MFC Reactor

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Cost efficient and economical treatment methods are the need of the hour in waste water treatment industry. Both the criteria can be met by the effective treatment method of “Microbial fuel cells” which is capable of converting the biomass substrate into electricity. In this paper, effort was taken to select reactor configuration which is essential for the single chambered membrane less MFC to perform efficiently. Two reactors of tubular configurations were selected in this project, one with activated carbon media and another one without media. The flow pattern and mixing behaviour in the reactor are analysed by conducting the tracer test using sodium chloride and KMnO4 as tracers. NaCl is measured in terms of electrical conductivity and KMnO4 for estimating the flow rate to be adopted for the tracer test. KMnO4 tracer test was conducted to identify the presence of dead zones inside the reactors. Result of the NaCl tracer test is obtained by plotting the RTD curves between electrical conductivity and time. Regression values and Peclet number are obtained from the graph to decide the pattern between PFR (plug flow reactor) or CSTR flow regime.

Anantha Moorthy U , K Radhika, Sangeetha Anand

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