Advanced process characterization
On the basis of available resources at HZDR, CLEWATEC experts are developing and applying a number of devices and approaches for advanced process characterization in biogas and wastewater applications.
Biogas and wastewater treatment plants consist of large reactors of several cubic metres, which are often difficult to access and filled with opaque media. These properties make it difficult to characterise the process using conventional measurement methods. Spatially distributed process data on the quality of mixing, flow velocities, dead zones or even local process chemistry has been almost completely lacking until now.
The flow-tracing sensor particles in the CLEWATEC Innovation Lab, also called FlowTracers, are able to collect 3D data on mixing success and process efficiency in large industrial reactors in a short time without disturbing the flow and without the installation of fixed equipment in the vessel. For this reason, FlowTracer technology offers an innovative solution for identifying process optimization potential in various industrial applications, including biogas production and wastewater treatment, but also chemical and pharmaceutical production.
Another measurement device that has been qualified for wastewater treatment in CLEWATEC is the process microscope. Developed at the fluid dynamics institute of HZDR, the process microscope can be submerged in fluids to measure gas bubbles and particles within them. The process microscope is therefore ideal for the characterization and comparison of gas injection devices.
Apart from the FlowTracer and technology and the applications of the process microscope of HZDR, CLEWATEC is also contributing to the development of new systems for flow process characterization in the RIOWAR (BWMK) and Edge-Power (BMBF) funded projects.
Publications:
- Rautenbach, R., Hofmann, S., Buntkiel, L., Schäfer, J., Reinecke, S. F., Hoffmann, M., Hampel, U., Schlüter, M., Dynamics of Lagrangian Sensor Particles: The Effect of Non-Homogeneous Mass Distribution. Processes, 12 (8), 1617 (2024).
- Herrmann-Heber, R., Oleshova, M., Reinecke, S. F., Meier, M., Taş, S., Hampel, U., Lerch, A., Population balance modeling-assisted prediction of oxygen mass transfer coefficients with optical measurements. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 64, 105663 (2024).
- Hofmann, S., Buntkiel, L., Rautenbach, R., Gaugler, L., Ma, Y., Haase, I., Fitschen, J. , Wucherpfennig, T., Reinecke, S. F., Hoffmann, M., Takors, R., Hampel, U., Schlüter, M., Experimental analysis of lifelines in a 15,000 L bioreactor by means of Lagrangian Sensor Particles. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 205, 695-712 (2024).
- Buntkiel, L., Ma, Y., Reinecke, S. F., Hampel, U., Orientation resolved measurements of accelerations with sensor particles in bioreactors. tm – Technisches Messen (2023).
- Reinecke, S. F., Buntkiel, L., Kipping, R., Hampel, U., Process characterization in industrial vessels by flow-following sensor particles. Measurement Science and Technology, 33, 095106 (2022).
- Sommer, A.-E., Wagner, M., Reinecke, S. F., Bieberle, M., Barthel, F., Hampel, U., Analysis of activated sludge aerated by membrane and monolithic spargers with ultrafast X-ray tomography. Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 53, 18–27 (2017).
- Reinecke, S. F., Hampel, U., Instrumented flow-following sensor particles with magnetic position detection and buoyancy control. Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems, 5 (1), 213–220 (2016).
- Reinecke, S. F., Deutschmann, A., Jobst, K., Kryk, H., Friedrich, E., Hampel, U., Flow following sensor particles – Validation and macro-mixing analysis in a stirred fermentation vessel with a highly viscous substrate. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 69, 159–171 (2012).
