Biomass-fuelled proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) offer asolution for replacing fossil fuel for hydrogen production. Through using thebiomass-derived hydrogen as fuel, PEMFCs may become an efficient andsustainable energy system for small and medium-sized enterprises. The aim ofthis thesis is to evaluate the performance and potential applications of biomassfuelledPEMFC systems which are designed to convert biomass to electricity andheat. Biomass-fuelled PEMFC systems are simulated by Aspen plus based ondata collected from experiments and literature.The impact of the quality of the hydrogen-rich gas, anode stoichiometry, CH4content in the biogas and CH4 conversion rate on the performance of the PEMFCis investigated. Also, pinch technology is used to optimize the heat exchangernetwork to improve the power generation and thermal efficiency.For liquid and solid biomass, anaerobic digestion (AD) and gasification (GF),respectively, are relatively viable and developed conversion technologies. ForAD-PEMFC, a steam reformer is also needed to convert biogas to hydrogen-richgas. For 100 kWe generation, the GF-PEMFC system yields a good technicalperformance with 20 % electrical efficiency and 57 % thermal efficiency,whereas the AD-PEMFC system only has 9 % electrical efficiency and 13 %thermal efficiency. This low efficiency is due to the low efficiency of theanaerobic digester (AD) and the high internal heat consumption of the AD andthe steam reformer (SR). For the environmental aspects, the GF-PEMFC systemhas a high CO2 emissions offset factor and the AD-PEMFC system has anefficient land-use.The applications of the biomass-fuelled PEMFC systems are investigated on adairy farm and an olive oil plant. For the dairy farm, manure is used as feedstockto generate biogas through anaerobic digestion. A PEMFC qualified for 40 %electrical efficiency may generate 360 MWh electricity and 680 MWh heat peryear to make a dairy farm with 300 milked cows self-sufficient in a sustainableway. A PEMFC-CHP system designed for an olive oil plant generating annual 50000 m3 solid olive mill waste (SOMW) and 9 000 m3 olive mill waste water(OMW) is simulated based on experimental data from the Biogas2PEM-FCproject1. After the optimization of the heat exchanger network, the PEMFC-CHP  system can generate 194 kW electricity which corresponds to 62 % of the totalelectricity demand of the olive oil plant.The economic performance of the PEMFC and biogas-fuelled PEMFC areassessed roughly including capital, operation &amp; maintenance (O&amp;M) costs of thebiogas plant and the PEMFC-CHP, the cost of heat and electricity, and the valueof the digestate as fertilizer. / <p>QC 20151109</p>

Baigiamajame magistriniame darbe tirta Utenos nuotekų valymo įrenginių pirminio ir perteklinio veikliojo dumblo mišinio skirtingų polimerų ir geležies druskų anaerobiniam puvimo procesui įtaka. Analizėje nagrinėjama proceso metu išsiskiriančių biodujų tūris ir metano dujų koncentracija. Tyrime naudojamas anaerobinio pūdymo modelis „W8 Armfield Ltd“, kuris dirba kaip vienalaipsniai anaerobiniai reaktoriai su mezofiliniu režimu. Išbuvimo trukmė – 20 dienų, apkrova bepelenėmis sausomis medžiagomis (BSM) nuo 0,61–0,96 gBSM/l/d, tiekiamo dumblo mišinio sausų medžiagų kiekis (SM) – 4 %. Baigiamuoju darbu siekiama išanalizuoti dumblo tirštinimui naudojamo sintetinio arba natūralaus polimero ir dozuojamos druskos (geležies sulfato (Fe2(SO4)3) bei geležies chlorido (FeCl3)) įtaką anaerobiniam pūdymo procesui. Panaudojus anaerobinio pūdymo modelį buvo sukurtos anaerobinės sąlygos ir pūdomas iš Utenos nuotekų valyklos tiekiamas pirminio ir perteklinio dumblo mišinys. Naudojantis įrenginiu INCA 4000 T100 buvo kaupiamos biodujos ir analizuojama jų sudėtis. Darbe taip pat nagrinėjamas SM sumažėjimas ir BSM suskaidymas. Įvertinus visus analizuojamus kriterijus nustatomas efektyviausias metodas išsiskiriančių dujų efektyvumui ir kokybei pagerinti. Išanalizavus tyrimo rezultatus pateiktos išvados. Darbą sudaro šios dalys: įvadas, 4 skyriai, išvados, rekomendacijos, literatūros sąrašas. Darbo apimtis – 63 p. teksto be priedų, 32 paveikslai, 8 lentelės, 42 bibliografiniai šaltiniai. / Objective of this work was to investigate impact of different iron and polymer doses on anaerobic digestion process. Primary and waste activated sludge was obtained from Utena Wastewater treatment plant. Analysis shows the volume of biogas produced and percentage of methane. The work was carried out using high-rate anaerobic digestion model W8 (Armfied Ltd. UK) which operates in the mesophilic range. The solids retention time was 20 days. The volatile suspended solids loading rate ranged from 0.61 to 0.96 g VSS/l d.Sludge mixture feed concentration – 4%. The Purpose of this work is to analyse impact of synthetic and organic polymer also iron (III) sulphate (Fe2(SO4)3) and iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) on anaerobic digestion process. Primary and waste activated sludge was obtained from Utena Wastewater treatment plant. The biogas was collected and components were analysed using INCA 4000 T100 analyser. Analysis of TS reduction and VS destruction is also presented. The most effective method of improving off-gas efficiency and quality was determined considering all the criteria determined by analysis. Having analyzed the results of the research, conclusions have been made. This work consists of the following parts: pre-face, 3 sections, conculsions, recommendations, reference list. There are 63 pages of text without appendices, 32 figures, 8 tables and 42 bibliographical sources in this work.

The use of microalgae culture to convert CO2 from power plant flue gases into biomass that are readily converted into biofuels offers a new frame of opportunities to enhance, compliment or replace fossil-fuel-use. Apart from being renewable, microalgae also have the capacity to utilise materials from a variety of wastewater and the ability to yield both liquid and gaseous biofuels. However, the processes of cultivation, incorporation of a production system for power plant waste flue gas use, algae harvesting, and oil extraction from the biomass have many challenges. Using SimaPro software, Life cycle Assessment (LCA) of the challenges limiting the microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) biofuel production process was performed to study algae-based pathway for producing biofuels. Attention was paid to material use, energy consumed and the environmental burdens associated with the production processes. The goal was to determine the weak spots within the production system and identify changes in particular data-set that can lead to and lower material use, energy consumption and lower environmental impacts than the baseline microalgae biofuel production system. The analysis considered a hypothetical transesterification and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) transformation of algae-to- biofuel process. Life cycle Inventory (LCI) characterisation results of the baseline biodiesel (BD) transesterification scenario indicates that heating to get the biomass to 90% DWB accounts for 64% of the total input energy, while electrical energy and fertilizer obligations represents 19% and 16% respectively. Also, Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results of the baseline BD production scenario show high proportional contribution of electricity and heat energy obligations for most impact categories considered relative to other resources. This is attributed to the concentration/drying requirement of algae biomass in order to ease downstream processes of lipid extraction and subsequent transesterification of extracted lipids into BD. Thus, four prospective alternative production scenarios were successfully characterised to evaluate the extent of their impact scenarios on the production system with regards to lowering material use, lower energy consumption and lower environmental burdens than the standard algae biofuel production system. A 55.3% reduction in mineral use obligation was evaluated as the most significant impact reduction due to the integration of 100% recycling of production harvest water for the AD production system. Recycling also saw water demand reduced from 3726 kg (freshwater).kgBD- 1 to 591kg (freshwater).kgBD- 1 after accounting for evaporative losses/biomass drying for the BD transesterification production process. Also, the use of wastewater/sea water as alternative growth media for the BD production system, indicated potential savings of: 4.2 MJ (11.8%) in electricity/heat obligation, 10.7% reductions for climate change impact, and 87% offset in mineral use requirement relative to the baseline production system. Likewise, LCIA characterisation comparison results comparing the baseline production scenarios with that of a set-up with co-product economic allocation consideration show very interesting outcomes. Indicating -12 MJ surplus (-33%) reductions for fossil fuels resource use impact category, 52.7% impact reductions for mineral use impact and 56.6% reductions for land use impact categories relative to the baseline BD production process model. These results show the importance of allocation consideration to LCA as a decision support tool. Overall, process improvements that are needed to optimise economic viability also improve the life cycle environmental impacts or sustainability of the production systems. Results obtained have been observed to agree reasonably with Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis, with the production scenario proposing the exploitation of wastewater/sea water to culture algae biomass offering the best result outcome. This study may have implications for additional resources such as production facility and its construction process, feedstock processing logistics and transport infrastructure which are excluded. Future LCA study will require extensive consideration of these additional resources such as: facility size and its construction, better engineering data for water transfer, combined heat and power plant efficiency estimates and the fate of long-term emissions such as organic nitrogen in the AD digestate. Conclusions were drawn and suggestions proffered for further study.

This work was carried out at Biogas Research Center (BRC) and the company Biogas in Vadstena. The aim was to systematically evaluate new substrates for biogas production. In particular, this case investigated the potential of straw in co-digestion with manure and slurry from pig, chicken and dairy. Straw is interesting to evaluate since it is second generation biomass and available in a large quantity. Also, anaerobic digestion (AD) of manure is beneficial because it deals with the spontaneous methane emission and leads to a better manure handling. Goals within the EU as well as in Sweden have been set up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel and to produce more renewable energy. The methodology used is outlined by BRC in which a number of key areas, such as description of biomass, amount biomass, gas yield, technology, economy, environmental performance and energy system, competing interests and institutional factors, have been evaluated through literature studies and case study Biogas in Vadstena. Based on the results an overall judgment is done to determine the potential of straw. The result shows that straw is not appropriate to digest solely because of high TS, high carbon content and lack of nutrients. Straw also has lignocellulosic structures, which are difficult to break down. Especially lignin limits the biodegradability. Mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological pretreatments can increase the availability and biodegradability in the straw. In some cases pretreatment can also increase the methane potential. However, straw works well as a carbon complement in co-digestion with manure, which is a nitrogen-rich substrate. There are technologies available for AD of straw and manure for the whole biogas process, from transportation and pretreatment to digestion and upgrading. Although, there is space for further development of pretreatment and upgrading technology. The economic calculations show that it is profitable to use straw with manure in a farm-based biogas plant for vehicle gas production. Furthermore, the calculations of the energy show that biogas production is energy efficient with energy input/output ratio of 18-23%. Besides production of biogas, the digestate could be used as an environmentally friendly fertilizer. In summary, it is possible to produce biogas from straw together with manure, and this is beneficial from both an environmental and economic perspective. / Detta examensarbete har utförts i samarbete med Biogas Research Center (BRC) och företaget Biogas i Vadstena. Målet med examensarbetet var att systematiskt utvärdera nya substrat för biogasproduktion. Specifikt för det här fallet var att undersöka potentialen för halm i samrötning med gödsel och flyt från svin, höns och nöt. Halm är intressant att utvärdera då det tillhör andra generationens biomassa och finns tillgängligt i stor mängd. Även rötning av gödsel är givande då den spontana metanemissionen uteblir och det ger en bättre gödselhantering. Det har satts upp mål inom såväl EU som i Sverige att mer förnybart bränsle bör produceras för att minska växthusgasutsläppen från fossila bränslen. Metodiken som använts har framarbetats av BRC. Det innebär att substrat granskas utifrån ett flertal nyckelområden, såsom beskrivning och mängd biomassa, gasutbyte, synergieffekter, teknik, ekonomi, miljöpåverkan och energisystem, konkurrerande intressen och institutionella faktorer. Dessa har utvärderats genom litteraturstudier och studie av fallet Biogas i Vadstena. Utifrån resultatet görs en övergripande bedömning av substratet. Resultatet visar att halm inte är lämpligt att röta enskilt på grund av högt TS-värde, högt kolinnehåll och att den är näringsfattig. Halm består även till stor del av lignocellosa-strukturer som är svåra att bryta ned, i synnerhet lignin. Mekaniska, termiska, kemiska och bioglogiska förbehandlingar kan öka tillgängligheten och nedbrytbarheten av halm. Det kan även öka metanpotentialen i vissa fall. Däremot fungerar halm bra som ett komplement i samrötning med gödsel som är ett kväverikt substrat. Det finns teknik för rötning av halm för hela biogasprocessen, från transport, förbehandling och rötning till uppgradering. Dock finns utrymme för tekniken att utvecklas ytterligare. De ekonomiska beräkningarna visar att det är lönsamt att använda halm tillsammans med gödsel i en jordbruksbaserad biogasanläggning för fordonsgasproduktion. Vidare visar beräkningar för energisystemet att biogasproduktion är energieffektiv med energi input/output-kvot på 18-23%. Förutom fordonsgas produceras även biogödsel som är ett miljövänligt alternativ till konstgjord gödsel. Sammanfattningsvis, det är möjligt att producera biogas av halm tillsammans med gödsel och det är fördelaktigt ur en såväl miljömässigt som ekonomiskt perspektiv.

There is approximately 14 million tonnes of biodegradable organic waste produced by households in the UK every year which must be treated or disposed of. The EC Directive on Landfill (1999/31IEC), is likely to lead to an increase in compo sting and anaerobic digestion as methods to treat the waste stream diverted from landfill. Householders play an important role in separating their waste, which, if not performed efficiently can lead to contamination of the organic waste stream, and hence the compost product. A survey is used to determine the attitude and behaviour of householders to waste issues. It was found that residents in the less affluent area were less likely to home compost and had a less favourable attitude towards environmental activities than residents in the affluent area. A comparison of compost from centralised composting schemes treating different organic waste streams found that compost derived from household waste was of a slightly poorer quality than that obtained from gardens/parks waste. As more waste is recycled as compost, it is becoming increasingly important to find alternative uses for compost. Leachability data are used to determine the environmental availability of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contained in natural compost. Batch sorption data are used to determine uptake of additional Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn by compost and assess its potential use in remediation work, as an alternative to natural materials such as peat. The relative binding of these additional metals to compost is found to be in the order Pb>Cu≈Cd>Zn. The sorption of metals on compost takes place, at least in part, by exchange of calcium bound to the compost and there is evidence that the sorption occurs in both the humic and non-humic sites in the compost. The use of compost to bind metals in remediation work is discussed.

The study took place in Vietnam at Hanoi University of Science in the framework of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) – “An advancement of the German-Vietnamese University partnerships”. The research has been supported by the program: “Wastewater and Solid Waste Management in Provincial Centers” and belongs to its technical component. The present diploma thesis elaborates the current situation of sewage sludge management in Vietnam and is dealing with sludge characteristics from both domestic sewage treatment facilities and septic tanks. During the research, different treatment components and treatment facilities have been analyzed to carry out a comprehensive survey of sewage sludge types. In this thesis, a guideline (draft) was developed as a main result, which can be helpful to bridge the legislative gap for sewage sludge re-use in Vietnam. In conclusion, an integrated concept has been developed, which recommends the application of selected proceeding elements to treat sewage sludge and the further utilization of re-useable materials in agriculture in a controlled and environmentally-safe manner. / Die Diplomarbeit wurde im Rahmen des Deutsch-Vietnamesischem Auslandsaustauschprogramms an der „Hanoi University of Science“ verfasst. Dieses Vorhaben wurde unterstützt von dem DAAD (Deutschen Akademischen Austausch Dienst), und ist im technischem Bereich des Programms “Wastewater and Solid Waste Management in Provincial Centers“ einzugliedern. Die vorstehende Diplomarbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem aktuellen Klärschlammmanagement in Vietnam und liefert dabei detaillierte Resultate zu verschiedenen Klarschlammtypen aus kommunalen Abwasserbehandlungsanlagen. Bei den Untersuchungen wurden verschiedene Abwasser- und Klärschlammbehandlungsanlagen untersucht, um einen Überblick zu den gebräuchlichen Behandlungsmethoden in Vietnam zu erarbeiten. Zusätzlich wurden die institutionellen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen überprüft. Der Entwurf einer Verordnung zur Verwertung von Klärschlamm in der Landwirtschaft wurde vorgelegt, um eine bestehende rechtliche Lücke in Vietnam zu schließen. Mit dieser Arbeit wurde ein integriertes Konzept entwickelt, welches mittels verschiedene verfahrenstechnische Elemente den Klärschlamm behandelt und darauffolgend das verwertbare Material in ausgewählten landwirtschaftlichen Flächen in einer kontrollierten und umweltschonenden Weise verwertet.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:24:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 duda_rm_dr_jabo.pdf: 7705565 bytes, checksum: 22edf4cc4e57fedc9fa2426e83e181e0 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Avaliou-se o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB) seguido de um filtro anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente, instalados em série, com volume total de 300 L e 190 L, respectivamente, no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura. As cargas orgânicas volumétricas aplicadas no reator UASB foram de 9,2 a 26,7 g DQOtotal (L d)-1. Para o pós-tratamento do efluente do sistema de tratamento anaeróbio utilizou-se um filtro biológico percolador (FBP) com volume total de 250 L. O meio suporte utilizado no filtro anaeróbio e no FBP foi composto por anéis de bambu e anéis de eletroduto plástico corrugado. As cargas hidráulicas superficiais (Qs) aplicadas no FBP variaram de 3,5 a 21,1 m3 (m2 d)-1. Os tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) aplicados no sistema de tratamento anaeróbio e pós-tratamento foram de 23,3 a 66,6 h. As produções volumétricas de metano no sistema de tratamento anaeróbio variaram de 0,16 a 0,68 L CH4 (L reator d)-1. Foram observadas eficiências médias de remoção de até 97% para a demanda química de oxigênio total, de 98% para os sólidos suspensos totais, de 78% para o nitrogênio total, de 79% para o fósforo total, de 99,9% para o cobre, de 99,9% para o zinco e de 99,99% para os coliformes termotolerantes, no sistema de tratamento anaeróbio e póstratamento. Com a utilização de diferentes fontes de substrato no ensaio de atividade da microbiota, observou-se o crescimento equilibrado das populações hidrolíticas, acidogênicas, acetogênicas e metanogênicas acetoclásticas e hidrogenotróficas no lodo dos reatores anaeróbios. Com a aplicação da técnica de biologia molecular (metagenômica) foram identificadas no lodo do reator UASB e do filtro anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente arquéias metanogênicas das famílias Methanomicrobiaceae, Methanobacteriacea, Methanosaetaceae e Methanosarcinaceae. / The performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) followed of the anaerobic filter, installed in series, were evaluated for the treatment of swine wastewater. The total volume of UASB and anaerobic filter were of 300 L and 190 L, respectively. The organic load rate applied on the reactor UASB were of 9.2 to 26.7 g total COD (L d)-1, in the start and assays 1, 2, 3 and 4. For the post-treatment of effluent the anaerobic system was used a trickling filter, with total volume of 250 L. The supports used in the anaerobic filter and trickling filter were composed by bamboo rings in the start up and assays 1 to 2 and plastics rings in the assays 3 to 4. The hydraulic load applied on the trickling filter were of 3.5 to 21.1 m3 (m2 d)-1. The hydraulic detetion time (HDT) applied of system anaerobic and post treatment were 23.3 at 66.6 h. The volumetric methane productions ranged from 0.16 a 0.68 L CH4 (L reactor d)-1. The efficiencies of removal the chemical oxygen demand, total solids suspended, copper, zinc and fecal coliforms were of up to 97, 98, 78, 79, 99.9, 99.9 e 99.99%, respectively, for the anaerobic and post-treatment. With the use of different substratum sources in the assays of specific methanogenic activity, it was observed the balanced growth of the populations of microorganisms in the sludge of anaerobic reactor. The archaeas of the families Methanomicrobiaceae, Methanobacteriaceae; Methanosaetaceae and Methanosarcinaceae were identified in the sludge of the reactor UASB and of the anaerobic filter.

Cette thèse porte sur l'analyse et le contrôle optimal d'un digesteur anaérobie. L'objectif est de proposer une stratégie de commande optimale pour maximiser la quantité de biogaz produit dans un bioréacteur anaérobie sur une période de temps donnée. Plus particulièrement, à partir d'un modèle simple de bioprocédé et en considérant une classe importante de cinétiques de croissance, nous résolvons un problème de maximisation de biogaz produit par le système pendant un temps fixé, en utilisant le taux de dilution D(.) comme variable de contrôle. Dépendant des conditions initiales du système, l'analyse du problème de contrôle optimal fait apparaître des degrés de difficulté très divers. Dans une première partie, nous résolvons le problème dans le cas où le taux de dilution permettant de maximiser le débit de gaz à l'équilibre est à l'intérieur des bornes minimales et maximales du débit d'alimentation pouvant être appliqué au système : il s'agit du cas WDAC (Well Dimensioned Actuator Case). La synthèse du contrôle optimal est obtenue par une approche de comparaison de trajectoires d'un système dynamique. Une étude comparative des solutions exactes avec celle obtenues avec une approche numérique directe en utilisant le logiciel "BOCOP" est faite. Une comparaison des performances du contrôleur optimal avec celles obtenues en appliquant une loi heuristique est discutée. On montre en particulier que les deux lois de commande amènent le système vers le même point optimal. Dans une deuxième partie, dans le cas où l'actionneur est sous- (ou sur-) dimensionné, c'est-à-dire si la valeur du taux de dilution à appliquer pour obtenir le maximum de biogaz à l'équilibre est en dehors de la valeur minimale ou maximale de l'actionneur, alors nous définissons les cas UDAC (Uder dimensioned Actuator Case) et ODAC (Over Dimensioned Actuator Case) que nous résolvons en appliquant le principe du maximum de Pontryagin. / This thesis focuses on the optimal control of an anaerobic digestor for maximizing its biogas production. In particular, using a simple model of the anaerobic digestion process, we derive a control law to maximize the biogas production over a period of time using the dilution rate D(.) as the control variable. Depending on initial conditions and constraints on the actuator, the search for a solution to the optimal control problem reveals very different levels of difficulty. In the first part, we consider that there are no severe constraints on the actuator. In particular, the interval in which the input flow rate lives includes the value which allows the biogas to be maximized at equilibrium. For this case, named WDAC (Well Dimensioned Actuator Case) we solve the optimal control problem using classical tools of differential equations analysis.Numerical simulations illustrate the robustness of the control law with respect to several parameters, notably with respect to initial conditions. We use these results to show that an heuristic control law proposed in the literature is optimal in a certain sense. The optimal trajectories are then compared with those given by a purely numerical optimal control solver (i.e. the "BOCOP" toolkit) which is an open-source toolbox for solving optimal control problems. When the exact analytical solution to the optimal control problem cannot be found, we suggest that such numerical tool can be used to intuiter optimal solutions.In the second part, the problem of maximizing the biogas production is treated when the actuator is under (-over) dimensioned. These are the cases UDAC (Under Dimensioned Actuator Cases) and ODAC (Over Dimensioned Actuator Cases). Then we solve these optimal problems using the Maximum Principle of Pontryagin.

Cette thèse porte sur l’analyse mathématique de différents modèles de la digestion anaérobie. Dans la première partie, nous étudions un modèle à quatre étapes avec dégradation enzymatique du substrat (matière organique) qui peut être sous forme solide. Nous étudions l’effet de l’hydrolyse sur le comportement du processus de la digestion anaérobie et de la production du biogaz (méthane et hydrogène). Nous considèrons, dans un premier modèle, que l’hydrolyse se fait d’une manière enzymatique, alors que dans un second, nous supposons qu’elle est réalisée par un compartiment microbien. Les modèles considérés incluent l’inhibition de croissance des bactéries acétogènes, méthanogènes hydrogénétrophes et acétoclastes par plu- sieurs substrats. Pour étudier l’effet de ces inhibitions en présence de l’étape de l’hydrolyse, nous étudions dans un premier temps un modèle sans inhibition. Nous déterminons les équilibres et nous donnons des conditions nécessaires et suffisantes pour leur stabilité. L’existence et la stabilité des équilibres sont illustrées avec des diagrammes opératoires. Nous montrons que le modèle avec hydrolyse enzymatique change la production du méthane et d’hydrogène. En outre, l’introduction du com- partiment hydrolytique microbien donne de nouveaux équilibres et affecte les régions de stabilité. Nous prouvons que la production de biogaz est maximale en un seul point d’équilibre selon les paramètres opératoires et nous déterminons le taux maxi- mal de biogaz produit, dans chaque cas. Dans la deuxième partie, nous nous sommes intéressés à un modèle à deux étapes décrivant les phases de l’acétogénèse et de la méthanogénèse hydrogénotrophe. Le modèle représente une relation de syntrophie entre deux espèces microbiennes (les bactéries acétogènes et méthanogènes hydro- génotrophes), avec deux substrats à l’entrée (l’acide gras volatile et l’hydrogène), incluant les termes de mortalité et l’inhibition de croissance des bactéries acéto- gènes par un excès d’hydrogène dans le système. L’analyse de l’existence et de la stabilité des équilibres du modèle donne naissance à un nouvel équilibre qui peut être stable selon les paramètres opératoires du système. En utilisant les diagrammes opératoires, on remarque que, quelle que soit la région de l’espace considérée, il existe un seul équilibre localement exponentiellement stable. Cette étude est géné- ralisée dans le cas où la croissance des bactéries méthanogènes hydrogénotrophes est inhibée. Ce modèle donne naissance à deux équilibres strictement positifs et une bistabilité. Nous illustrons, en utilisant les diagrammes opératoires l’effet de cette inhibition sur la réduction des régions de coexistence et l’émergence de régions de bistabilité. / This PhD thesis focuses on the mathematical analysis of different anaerobic digestion (AD) models. In a first part, we study a 4-step model with enzymatic degradation of the substrate (organic matter) that can partly be under a solid form. We investigate the effects of hydrolysis on the behavior of the AD process and the production of biogas (namely, the methane and the hydrogen). We consider, in a first model, that the microbial enzymatic activity is constant, then we take into consideration an explicit hydrolytic microbial compartment for the substrate biodegradation. The considered models include the inhibition of acetogens, hydroge- notrophic methanogens and acetoclastic methanogens growth bacteria. To examine the effects of these inhibitions in presence of a hydrolysis step, we first study an inhibition-free model. We determine the steady states and give sufficient and neces- sary conditions for their stability. The existence and stability of the steady states are illustrated by operating diagrams. We prove that modeling the hydrolysis phase by a constant enzymatic activity affects the production of methane and hydrogen. Furthermore, introducing the hydrolytic microbial compartment yields new steady states and affects the stability regions. We prove that the biogas production occurs at only one of the steady states according to the operating parameters and state variables and we determine the maximal rate of biogas produced, in each case. In the second part, we are interested in a reduced and simplified model of the AD pro- cess. We focus on the acetogenesis and hydrogenetrophic methanogenesis phases. The model describes a syntrophic relationship between two microbial species (the acetogenic bacteria and the hydrogenetrophic methanogenic bacteria) with two in- put substrates (the fatty acids and the hydrogen) including both decay terms and inhibition of the acetogenic bacteria growth by an excess of hydrogen in the sys- tem. The existence and stability analysis of the steady states of the model points out the existence of a new equilibrium point which can be stable according to the operating parameters of the system. By means of operating diagrams, we show that, whatever the region of space considered, there exists only one locally exponentially stable steady state. This study is generalized to the case where the growth of the hydrogenetrophic methanogens bacteria is inhibited. This model exhibits a rich be- havior with the existence of two positive steady states and bistability. We illustrate by means of operating diagrams the effect of this inhibition on the reduction of the coexistence region and the emergence of a bistability region.

Ce travail de thèse présente l'optimisation d'une technologie de valorisation énergétique qui utilise des résidus agricoles pour la production d'énergies renouvelables, tout en réduisant les émissions mondiales de méthane et en garantissant la sécurité alimentaire. Des digesteurs anaérobies à l'échelle laboratoire, pilote et industrielle ont été évalués afin d'améliorer la production de méthane à partir de la digestion anaérobie de la paille de riz non traitée dans des conditions sèches en utilisant une approche nouvelle de co-digestion. Une installation de production biogaz à l'échelle d'une ferme chargée de paille de riz et d'eaux usées produites par une porcherie génère 295 MWh dans un cycle de digestion 422 jours. La période d'acclimatation relativement longue (environ 200 jours) et le faible rendement en biogaz (181 LCH4/kg MVS) pourraient être améliorées en ajoutant des boues anaérobies issues d'un procédé de traitement d'effluents de l'industrie papetière. Au laboratoire, l'ajout de la boue conduit à un rendement de méthane spécifique de 335 LCH4/kgMVS dans les 92 jours. L'hydrolyse de la paille a été accélérée, et des conditions stables ont été observées en termes de pH, d'alcalinité et de nutriments. Des améliorations similaires ont été démontrés dans des digesteurs à l'échelle pilote (1 m3) - un rendement de méthane spécifique de 231 LCH4/kgMVS a été obtenu dans un cycle de digestion à 93 jours avec de la boue comparativement à 189 jours sans la boue. Un mélange insuffisant dans le système à l'échelle pilote a causé des rendements de production de méthane inférieurs à ceux obtenus dans les digesteurs l'échelle du laboratoire. Si les conditions mésophiles et de mélange suffisantes sont maintenues dans le système à l'échelle industrielle, la co-digestion de la paille de riz avec des eaux usées produites par une porcherie et des boues issues d'un procédé de traitement d'effluent de l'industrie papetière (rapport poids humide de 1:1.25:0.5) a le potentiel de réduire le temps de rétention à trois mois (contre 422 jours) et d'augmenter les rendements de production de méthane à plus de 300 LCH4/kgMVS / The research describes an optimized waste-to-energy technology that utilizes agricultural residues for renewable energy, while reducing global methane emissions and maintaining food security. Laboratory-, pilot- and farm-scale anaerobic batch digesters were evaluated to enhance methane production from the anaerobic digestion of untreated rice straw in dry conditions using a novel co-digestion approach. An existing farm-scale biogas plant loaded with rice straw and piggery wastewater produced 295 MWh in a 422-day digestion cycle. The long acclimation period (approximately 200 days) and low biogas yield (181 LCH4/kgVS) could be enhanced by adding anaerobic sludge from the pulp and paper mill treatment process. In a laboratory setting, the addition of the sludge resulted in a specific methane yield of 335 LCH4/kgVS within 92 days. Hydrolysis of the straw was accelerated, and stable conditions were observed in terms of pH, alkalinity and nutrients. Similar improvements were demonstrated in pilot-scale digesters (1 m3) – a specific methane yield of 231 LCH4/kgVS was achieved in a 93-day digestion cycle with the sludge compared to 189 days without the sludge. Insufficient mixing within the pilot-scale system caused lower overall methane yields than those obtained in the laboratory-scale digesters. If sufficient mixing and mesophilic conditions are maintained within the farm-scale system, the co-digestion of rice straw with pig wastewater and paper mill sludge (wet weight ratio of 1:1.25:0.5) has the potential to reduce the retention time to three months (versus 422 days) and increase methane yields to over 300 LCH4/kgVS