AbstractIn the operation of bioreactors, the fluid movement promotes mixing between sludge and substrate. The dynamics of this system are complex, and the interaction between the phases is difficult to evaluate accurately. In this work, Computational Fluid Dynamics is applied to simulate a pilot-scale anaerobic sequencing batch reactor, using a three-dimensional, transient and multiphase modeling. Several correlations were applied to estimate the interfacial forces. Results indicate that the use of different coefficients for the drag and lift forces strongly affects the predicted turbulent kinetic energy, and thus the mixture estimation in the bioreactor. The use of the drag as the only interfacial force provided an average turbulent kinetic energy close to the value found using a more complete model. However, the absence of lift and virtual mass forces had a significant impact on the resulting turbulence distribution.

This paper discusses the effect of different internal recirculation velocities on the mixture and shear stress on the flocs in an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). Thus, simulations are performed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool to evaluate this dependency. The analysis of velocities and turbulent kinetic energy indicates that the highest flow evaluated (0.003 m³/s) results in better mixing within the reactor. However, care must be taken with the recycling pipe size, in order to maintain the shear stress inside the range of optimal values.

The diet of four species of Anostomidae (Leporinus friderici Bloch, 1794, L. striatus Kner, 1858, L. elongatus Valenciennes, 1849 and Leporinus sp.) were investigated in the Manso Reservoir, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Fish were sampled in three sites: upriver, in the main body of the reservoir, and below the dam. Were analized 276 stomachs. The diet was evaluated using the frequency of ocorrence and volumetric methods. Leporinus friderici showed tendency to herbivory, mainly in the upriver site. In the reservoir and below the dam, it consumed large quantities of fish; Isoptera only in the reservoir. Leporinus striatus and L. elongatus have similar diets, consuming Chironomidae larvae (Diptera), whereas Leporinus sp. was more generalist, feeding similar proportions of vegetable, detritus and insect (Chironomidae and Ephemeroptera). The mouths of the species have different positions: terminal in L. friderici, subterminal in L. elongatus and intermediate in L. striatus and Leporinus sp. The diet overlap values were low, except for L. friderici and Leporinus sp. (0.7) in the upriver, and L. striatus and L. elongatus (0.6) below the dam.