What does this simulation model?

A continuously-stirred anaerobic digester: microbes break down volatile solids (VS) into biogas under first-order kinetics whose rate follows a Gaussian curve around each microbial community's thermal optimum, exactly as in the 3D version.

Why does raising temperature sometimes reduce biogas output?

The degradation rate k(T) peaks at the microbial community's optimum (about 37°C for mesophilic, 55°C for thermophilic bacteria) and falls off on both sides of that peak, so overheating past the optimum slows digestion just as much as running too cold.

What is hydraulic retention time (HRT)?

HRT is how long, on average, material stays in the tank before being displaced by new feed — it is computed here as reactor volume divided by the daily volumetric feed rate.

Home▸Biology▸Bioenergy Digester (2D): Anaerobic Kinetics & Biogas Power

Bioenergy Digester (2D): Anaerobic Kinetics & Biogas Power

2D cross-section of an anaerobic digester: adjust temperature, feed rate and reactor volume and watch first-order substrate kinetics, methane content, bubble rate and CHP electrical power update live.

Biology2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion runs the identical anaerobic-digester model as the 3D version — first-order substrate degradation whose rate follows a Gaussian curve around each microbial community's thermal optimum — through a plain cross-section view built for reading the process rather than orbiting a scene: a side panel exposes temperature, feed rate, reactor volume and the mesophilic/thermophilic toggle, while the canvas shows the substrate fill level, rising biogas bubbles sized to the live gas rate, and a CHP generator flame that grows and shrinks with the instantaneous electrical power output, so cause and effect stay visible while you tune the reactor.

⚙ Under the hood

2D anaerobic-digester lab: first-order substrate kinetics with a temperature-Gaussian rate constant, live biogas rate, methane content, CHP power output and hydraulic retention time, matching the 3D version's formulas.

bioenergyanaerobic digestionbiogasrenewable energysubstrate kinetics

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install