Influence of the Side Ventilation on the Durability of the Functioning of Drying Beds With Non-Saturated Flow in Treatement of Septic Tank Sludge

Abstract

The non-saturated Flow Drying Beds allow efficient treatment of septic tank sludge. However, they are vulnerable to clogging. To ensure the sustainability of this technology, through an additional supply of oxygen from the lateral surface, a flow model coupled with the variation of the biofilm has been developed. The calibration, validation and comparison of the simulated and experimental results were made from the NASH criterion. The simulations focused on two types of reactors. A reactor with pores on its side surface is called a ventilated reactor (VR). The second is then called an unventilated reactor (UVR). The results show that the maximum applicable organic load is 43.3 mgO2 / cm2 / d at the UVR level and 51.8 mgO2 / cm2 / d at the VR level. In addition, the reduction in free flow porosity is 93.33% at the UVR level and 81% at the AR level. In addition, the results show that when the hydraulic head is less than 5 cm / d, the COD removal efficiency is 96.19% at the UVR level and 95.64% at the VR level. But, when the load is greater than 5 cm / d, the yield is 92.65% at the level of the UVR and of 94.95% at the level of the VR. Thus, in the context of a large-scale operation, lateral ventilation is essential. It guarantees good purification efficiency, slows down internal clogging of beds and accelerates its reversibility when it occurs.