- Breweries and beverage industry
- Distilleries and fermentation industry
- Food Industry, Slaughter Houses.
- Pulp and paper
The UASB reactor can be designed as circular or rectangular. Modular design can be preferred when the volume of reactor exceeds about 400 m3. It is necessary to select proper range of operating parameters for design, such as, OLR, SLR, superficial liquid upflow velocity (referred as liquid upflow velocity), and HRT. The literature recommendations for all these parameters and design procedure to account these recommendations are given below.
What is Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket?
- COD input of wastewater
- Flow of wastewater
- Organic loading rate
- Hydraulic retention time
- If input COD is 5000 – 15000 mg/L or more, the design method should be used based on Organic Loading Rate
- If input COD less than 5000 mg/L, the design method should be based on velocity
Operation
Operation criteria: The optimum pH range is from 6.6 to 7.6 The wastewater temperatures should not be < p =" 350"> 20oC) and sometimes the start-up can take up to 3 – 4 months. In start-up process, hydraulic loading must be Ј 50% of the design hydraulic loading.
The start-up of the UASB reactor can be considered to be complete once a satisfactory performance of the system has been reached at its design load.
When input COD < 5,000 mg/l, using the method base on ORL is not effective in operation process because the granular sludge will be hardly formed. Therefore, the design criteria must be:
Up-flow velocity V Ј 0,5 m/h. Hydraulic retention time HRT і 4 h Chosen in table 1, the height of sludge is Hs = 3 – 5 m The height of setting area HSe і 1.2 m The volume of the UASB reactor: W = Q x HRTThe area of the UASB reactor: A = V / Q
Slope of the separator bottom from 45 – 60oFree surface in the aperture between the gas collectors: 15 – 20% of reactor area.Height of separator from 1.5 – 2 m
The baffles to be installed beneath the gas domes should overlap the edge of the domes over a distance from 10 – 20 cm
Construct material: In the anaerobic conditions of an UASB reactor, there is a risk of corrosion in two main situations:
Some H2S gas can pass the GSL separator and accumulate above the water level in the top of the reactor. This will be oxidized to sulphate by oxygen in the air to form Sulphuric Acid that will in turn cause corrosion of both concrete and steel. Below the water level: Calcium Oxide, (CaO), in concrete can be dissolve with by Carbon Dioxide, (CO2), in the liquid in low pH conditions. To avoid these problems, the material used to construct the UASB reactor should be corrosion resistant, such as stainless steel or plastics, or be provided with proper surface coatings, (e.g. coated concrete rather than coated steel, plastic covered with impregnated hardwood for the settler, plastic fortified plywood, etc).
Start-up:
An UASB reactor requires a long time for start-up, e.g. from 2 – 3 weeks in good conditions (t > 20oC) and sometimes the start-up can take up to 3 – 4 months. In start-up process, hydraulic loading must be Ј 50% of the design hydraulic loading.
The start-up of the UASB reactor can be considered to be complete once a satisfactory performance of the system has been reached at its design load.
UASB Units
- Initial pumping
- Screening and degritting
- Main UASB reactor
- Gas collection and conversion or conveyance
- Sludge drying bed
- Post treatment facility
Flow rate, m3/h
HRT, h
| Reactor configuration | Rectangular or circular. Rectangular shape is preferred |
| Depth | 4.5 to 5.0 m for sewage. |
| Width or diameter | To limit lengths of inlet laterals to around 10-12 m for facilitating uniform flow distribution and sludge withdrawal. |
| Length | As necessary. |
| Inlet feed | gravity feed from top (preferred for municipal sewage) or pumped feed from bottom through manifold and laterals (preferred in case of soluble industrial wastewaters). |
| Sludge blanket depth | 2 to 2.5 m for sewage. More depth is needed for stronger wastes. |
| Deflector/GLSS | This is a deflector beam which together with the gas hood (slope 60) forms a "gas-liquid-solid-separator" (GLSS) letting the gas go to the gas collection channel at top, while the liquid rises into the settler compartment and the sludge solids fall back into the sludge compartment. The flow velocity through the aperture connecting the reaction zone with the settling compartmentt is generally limited to about 5m/h at peak flow. |
| Settler compartment | 2.0-2.5 m in depth. Surface overflow rate equals 20-28 m3/m2/d at peak flow. |
A few process design parameters for UASBs are listed below for municipal sewages with BOD about 200-300 mg/l and temperatures above 20°C.
| HRT | 8-10 hours at average flow (minimum 4 hours at peak flow) |
| SRT | 30-50 days or more |
| Sludge blanket concentration (average) | 15-30 kg VSS per m3. About 70 kg TSS per m3. |
| Organic loading on sludge blanket | 0.3-1.0 kg COD/kg VSS day (even upto 10 kg COD/ kg VSS day for agro-industrial wastes). |
| Volumetric organic loading | 1-3 kg COD/m3 day for domestic sewage (10-15 kg COD/m3 day for agro-industrial wastes) |
| BOD/COD removal efficiency | Sewage 75-85% for BOD. 74-78% for COD. |
| Inlet points | Minimum 1 point per 3.7-4.0 m2 floor area. |
| Flow regime | Either constant rate for pumped inflows or typically fluctuating flows for gravity systems. |
| Upflow velocity | About 0.5 m/h at average flow, or 1.2 m/h at peak flow, whichever is low. |
| Sludge production | 0.15-0.25 kg TS per m3 sewage treated. |
| Sludge drying time | Seven days (in India) |
| Gas production | Theoretical 0.38 m3/kg COD removed. Actual 0.1-0.3 m3per kg COD removed. |
| Gas utilization | Method of use is optional. 1 m3 biogas with 75% methane content is equivalent to 1.4 kWh electricity. |
| Nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus removal | 5 to 10% only. |
HOW TO DESIGN BIO GAS HOLDER
GAS PRODUCTION & POWER GENERATION:
PARAMETER
|
INLET OF
UASB
|
OUTLET OF
UASB
|
REMOVAL
IN UASB
|
BOD
|
1700 ppm
|
340 ppm
|
80%
|
COD
|
3300 ppm
|
1320 ppm
|
60%
|
TSS
|
1800 ppm
|
450 ppm
|
75%
|
REFERENCE BOOK FOR DESIGN
1. Given influent data
Flow to UASB
500 KLD continuous over 24 hours
Convert to cubic meters per day
Q = 500 m3 per day
Hourly flow
Qh = 500 divided by 24 = 20.8 m3 per hour
Influent characteristics
pH 8.4
TSS 1500 mg per L
BOD 2000 mg per L
COD 4000 mg per L
Oil and grease 100 mg per L
This is typical high strength slaughterhouse wastewater and suitable for UASB after basic pretreatment.
2. Key design criteria from Metcalf and Eddy and Indian UASB practice
For slaughterhouse wastewater, accepted design ranges are
Organic loading rate
5 to 10 kg COD per m3 per day
Hydraulic retention time
6 to 10 hours
Upflow velocity
0.5 to 1.0 m per hour
Target COD removal
60 to 70 percent
We will design conservatively to avoid biomass washout.
3. Organic load calculation
Influent COD concentration
4000 mg per L = 4 kg per m3
Daily COD load
= Flow × COD
= 500 × 4
= 2000 kg COD per day
4. Reactor volume based on organic loading
Select design organic loading rate
= 6 kg COD per m3 per day
Required UASB volume
= COD load divided by OLR
= 2000 divided by 6
= 333 m3
5. Check hydraulic retention time
HRT = Reactor volume divided by flow
= 333 divided by 500
= 0.666 day
= 16 hours
This is higher than the minimum recommended value and is good for slaughterhouse wastewater with fats and proteins.
6. Reactor geometry selection
Assume cylindrical reactor for uniform flow.
Assume liquid depth
= 6.0 m
This is standard in Indian UASB designs.
Required cross sectional area
= Volume divided by depth
= 333 divided by 6
= 55.5 m2
Diameter of reactor
Area = pi × D squared divided by 4
D squared = 4 × 55.5 divided by pi
D squared = 70.7
D = 8.4 m
7. Upflow velocity check
Upflow velocity
= Flow per hour divided by area
Flow per hour
= 20.8 m3 per hour
Upflow velocity
= 20.8 divided by 55.5
= 0.37 m per hour
This is within safe limits and minimizes sludge washout.
8. Sludge blanket considerations
Design sludge blanket height
= 40 to 50 percent of reactor depth
Adopt
= 2.5 to 3.0 m sludge blanket
Granular sludge concentration typically
20 to 30 g VSS per L
This volume is sufficient for stable digestion of slaughterhouse organics.
9. Gas production estimate
Assume COD removal
= 65 percent
COD removed
= 2000 × 0.65
= 1300 kg per day
Methane yield
= 0.35 m3 CH4 per kg COD removed
Daily methane production
= 1300 × 0.35
= 455 m3 CH4 per day
Biogas including CO2
≈ 600 to 650 m3 per day
This is enough for boiler or hot water use in the slaughterhouse.
10. Oil and grease impact and pretreatment note
Oil and grease at 100 mg per L is acceptable only if
A grease trap or DAF is provided before UASB
TSS is reduced to below 800 mg per L
Without pretreatment, granule flotation and scum formation will occur.
11. Expected UASB effluent quality
COD removal 60 to 70 percent
Expected outlet COD
1200 to 1600 mg per L
BOD removal 65 to 75 percent
Expected outlet BOD
500 to 700 mg per L
Post treatment like MBBR or SBR is mandatory for reuse compliance in India.
12. Final UASB design summary
Flow
500 KLD
Reactor volume
333 m3
Reactor type
Single cylindrical UASB
Diameter
8.4 m
Liquid depth
6.0 m
Hydraulic retention time
16 hours
Upflow velocity
0.37 m per hour
Organic loading rate
6 kg COD per m3 per day
Estimated biogas
600 to 650 m3 per day
PART A
INLET DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DESIGN
The goal is uniform upward flow across the entire reactor area so the sludge blanket remains stable and no dead zones form.
1. Design basis
Total flow
500 m3 per day
= 20.8 m3 per hour
Reactor internal diameter
8.4 m
Reactor cross sectional area
55.5 m2
2. Number of inlet points
Metcalf and Eddy recommendation
1 inlet per 3 to 5 m2 of reactor area for high strength wastewater
Adopt conservative value
1 inlet per 4 m2
Required number of inlet points
= 55.5 divided by 4
= 13.9
Adopt
16 inlet points
This gives excellent flow distribution for slaughterhouse wastewater.
3. Flow per inlet
Total hourly flow
20.8 m3 per hour
Flow per inlet
= 20.8 divided by 16
= 1.30 m3 per hour
Convert to liters per second
= 1.30 divided by 3.6
= 0.36 L per second
4. Inlet pipe sizing
Recommended inlet velocity
0.6 to 1.0 m per second
Select
0.75 m per second
Pipe area required
Q divided by velocity
= 0.00036 divided by 0.75
= 0.00048 m2
Equivalent pipe diameter
≈ 25 mm
Adopt
32 mm internal diameter for clog free operation
5. Inlet layout
One central feed header pipe
Diameter 200 mm
Radial distribution arms
4 arms at 90 degrees
Each arm serves
4 inlet risers
Inlet nozzles placed uniformly across the floor
Clear spacing between nozzles
≈ 1.8 to 2.0 m
Each inlet riser ends 150 to 200 mm above reactor bottom with downward facing nozzle to avoid sludge ingress.
PART B
GLS SEPARATOR DESIGN
Gas Liquid Solid separator is the heart of the UASB.
6. Design criteria
Upward liquid velocity at GLS zone
less than 0.6 m per hour
Gas collection efficiency
greater than 90 percent
Inclination of deflector baffles
45 to 60 degrees
7. GLS surface area
GLS projected area is normally
25 to 35 percent of reactor cross sectional area
Adopt
30 percent
GLS area
= 0.30 × 55.5
= 16.7 m2
8. Number of GLS modules
For an 8.4 m diameter reactor
Use 4 identical GLS modules
Area per module
= 16.7 divided by 4
= 4.2 m2
Each module roughly
2.1 m × 2.0 m footprint
9. GLS vertical arrangement
Bottom of gas hood
= 3.0 m above reactor floor
Top of gas hood
= 4.8 m above reactor floor
Gas collection zone height
≈ 1.8 m
Settling zone above GLS
≈ 1.0 to 1.2 m
Clear liquid zone below effluent weir
≈ 0.8 m
10. Effluent launders
Peripheral launder channel provided at reactor wall
Weir loading rate
< 250 m3 per meter per day
Required weir length
= 500 divided by 250
= 2.0 m
Available circumference
= pi × 8.4
= 26.4 m
Hence weir loading is extremely safe.
PART C
GAS DOME DESIGN
11. Biogas production basis
Earlier calculated biogas
≈ 600 to 650 m3 per day
Hourly biogas generation
= 650 divided by 24
≈ 27 m3 per hour
12. Gas dome volume
Recommended gas storage
20 to 30 percent of daily gas production
Adopt
25 percent
Gas storage volume
= 0.25 × 650
= 160 m3
13. Gas dome geometry
Use fixed concrete dome integrated above GLS
Assume dome height
2.5 m
Required dome plan area
= Volume divided by height
= 160 divided by 2.5
= 64 m2
This matches well with reactor top area.
Dome diameter
≈ 9.0 m
Provide minimum freeboard
0.5 m above maximum gas level
PART D
BIOGAS PIPING DESIGN
14. Main gas header pipe
Peak gas flow
27 m3 per hour
= 0.0075 m3 per second
Recommended gas velocity
8 to 12 m per second
Select
10 m per second
Pipe area
= 0.0075 divided by 10
= 0.00075 m2
Equivalent diameter
≈ 31 mm
Adopt
50 mm diameter GI or HDPE gas pipe to avoid pressure losses and condensation blockage
15. Gas safety and accessories
Mandatory fittings
Water seal trap
Flame arrestor
Pressure relief valve
Condensate drain at lowest point
Non return valve
Design gas pressure
10 to 20 cm water column
PART E
FINAL DESIGN SUMMARY
Inlet points
16 numbers
Inlet riser diameter
32 mm
Main inlet header
200 mm
GLS modules
4 numbers
GLS total area
16.7 m2
Gas dome volume
160 m3
Main gas pipe
50 mm
Expected gas pressure
low pressure biogas system
HEIGHT DESCRIPTION
From bottom to top:
1. Reactor shell
-
Internal diameter: 8.4 m
-
Liquid depth: 6.0 m
-
Cylindrical RCC structure
2. Inlet zone
-
Inlet distribution pipes shown at the bottom
-
Actual inlet risers are placed about 150 to 200 mm above floor level
-
Flow is upward through the sludge blanket
3. Sludge blanket zone
-
Height: 3.0 m
-
Active anaerobic digestion zone
-
Granular sludge retained here
4. GLS separator zone
-
Height: 1.8 m
-
Located from 3.0 m to 4.8 m above reactor floor
-
Gas hoods deflect biogas
-
Solids slide back to sludge blanket
-
Liquid moves upward
5. Settling zone
-
Height: 1.0 m
-
From 4.8 m to 5.8 m
-
Allows fine solids to settle back
6. Effluent launder
-
Located just below liquid level
-
Peripheral launder with V notch or serrated weir
-
Leads to post treatment unit
7. Gas dome
-
Dome height: 2.5 m
-
Integrated RCC gas dome
-
Collects biogas from GLS
-
Connected to gas piping with condensate trap and safety devices
Expected UASB effluent quality
COD removal 60 to 70 percent
Expected outlet COD
1200 to 1600 mg per L
BOD removal 65 to 75 percent
Expected outlet BOD
500 to 700 mg per L
Post treatment like MBBR or SBR is mandatory for reuse compliance in India.
MBBR 1 (50% fill)
Reactor volume 167 m3
Media volume 83 m3
Dimensions 9.8 × 3.9 × 4.5 m
HRT 8.0 hours
Clarifier 1
Diameter 5.0 m
Depth 4.0 m
MBBR 2 (50% fill)
Reactor volume 146 m3
Media volume 73 m3
Dimensions 9.0 × 3.6 × 4.5 m
HRT 7.0 hours
Clarifier 2
Diameter 5.6 m
Depth 4.0 m
Total aerobic HRT after UASB
≈ 15 hours
EXPECTED FINAL PERFORMANCE
After Clarifier 2:
BOD
< 20 mg per L
COD
< 150 mg per L
TSS
< 10 mg per L
Suitable for filtration and disinfection for reuse.
Process Efficiency Chart (Summary)
| Stage | Effluent BOD (mg/L) | Effluent COD | TSS/FOG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Influent | 2000 | 5000 | 2000/1000 |
| After O&G Trap | ~1800 | ~4800 | 1800/300 |
| After DAF | ~1200 | ~3500 | 500/150 |
| After UASB | ~500 | ~1500 | 300/100 |
| After MBBR1 | ~250 | ~800 | 100/50 |
| After MBBR2 | ~100 | ~400 | 50/20 |
| After Filters | <50 | <200 | <10 |
| Reuse | Typically <30 | <100 | <5 |
ZLD will further polish via evaporation.






