3. Processes

3.1 Start-up and ramp-up strategies

From an operational point of view, start-up corresponds to the time required to bring the reactor up to its nominal load with a process efficiency in line with the desired specifications. The aim is to increase the applied volumetric load (AVL, defined according to equation (3) in table 9 ) as quickly as possible, without inhibiting the ecosystem.

Upgrading is generally implemented according to a conventional strategy, which consists of gradually increasing the organic matter input at each feed cycle, while maintaining optimum methanogenic activity. In this...