Anaerobic Digester Volatile Solids Loading
The digester health metric: volatile-solids loading rate VSLR = VS_fed / volume x 1000 (lb VS/day per 1,000 ft^3), the VS fed, and the detention time. Overloading past ~400 sours the digester (acid-formers outrun the methane-formers, pH crashes). The loading rate, not a full tank, is the metric; a rich feed can overload at low flow.
Formula and source
VS_fed = feed_gal x 8.34 x (%TS/100) x (%VS/100); VSLR = VS_fed / volume x 1000; DT = volume x 7.48 / feed_gal.
Anaerobic digester volatile-solids loading rate (WEF; university operator courses), by name.
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