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6095389 
Journal Article 
Load change capability of an anaerobic thermophilic trickle bed reactor for dynamic H2/CO2 biomethanation 
Strübing, D; Moeller, AB; Mößnang, B; Lebuhn, M; Drewes, JE; Koch, K 
2019 
Yes 
Bioresource Technology
ISSN: 0960-8524
EISSN: 1873-2976 
289 
121735 
English 
31300304 
WOS:000475746800076 
Increasing shares of energy production originating from fluctuating renewable sources require measures that are able to balance power production for a stable electricity grid. H2/CO2 biomethanation is a suitable approach to convert fluctuating excess renewable energy into the storable substitute natural gas. This study investigated the rapid load change capability of an anaerobic thermophilic trickle bed reactor while maintaining a high methane content. The return to full load (62.1 m3H2/m3trickle bed/d) after a 30-min operational off-cycle was possible almost immediately, while 24-h interruptions required a 60-min stepwise load increase. To accelerate this delayed microbial conversion activity, non-steady state substrate gas conversion can be controlled via substrate and product gas flow rates, allowing to reactivate the entire microbial community and produce high quality product gas. Reactor design might be further improved to avoid short-circuiting and use the entire trickle bed gas phase as high quality gas buffer during initial load increases.