Preparation of Samples for the Study of Rheological Parameters of Digested Pulps in a Bioreactor of an Agricultural Biogas Plant

Abstract

The studies of the rheology of digested pulp from agricultural biogas plants have often been fragmentary and non-standardised due to their complexity and time-consuming nature. As a result of measurements, it was possible to develop a procedure and range of measurements for the correct determination of the parameters of the carrier substance. The applicability of the coaxial cylinder measurement system was demonstrated for assessing the rheological parameters of digested pulp from a fermenter that utilises agricultural biomass. To determine the characteristics of solid particles, the Zingg diagram was used, inter alia, allowing the comparison of particles from each fraction. The analysis of the shape and size of solid particles may help to describe the onset of motion of this phase, flow type, or sedimentation type. The authors propose a completely new research approach to obtain an appropriate, repeatable test conditions of medium, which is the carrier liquid from the biogas plant reactor. The proposed methodology and the scenario of the entire study make it possible to achieve scalable and comparable test results in any laboratory. The proposed solution eliminates the influence of most external factors on the sample and rheological measurements, and the effectiveness of the presented procedure was confirmed in tests.