PAQUES CBD®

The PAQUES CBD® is an innovative anaerobic reactor operating at a low to medium loading rate employing flocculent biomass. It is capable of effectively treating high-strength influent (25-150 g/l COD and up to 100 g/L TSS) and is uniquely designed to handle heavy solids, such as sand, struvite and other inert material by continuously removing them from the process stream to eliminate detrimental accumulation within the reactor.

The advanced engineering of the CBD Reactor System virtually eliminates the occurrence of operational difficulties and process failures typically caused by poor mixing, dead zones and top layer scum buildup as frequently experienced in many conventional CSTR’s and similar anaerobic digesters. As described below, the utilization of the Bottom Scraper for heavy sludge removal, the efficient Influent/Biomass distribution through nozzles at the top of the reactor, along with the downflow of the biomass, operating as a plug flow reactor, results in the highest possible conversion efficiency of COD to valuable biogas.

• No dead zones: no accumulation of heavy solids and precipitates
• The plug flow regime results in lower fatty acid concentrations in effluent compared to completely mixed systems
• No short-circuiting
• No scum buildup
• No mechanical mixers
• Optimized mixing
• Maintenance external to tank only
• Simple operation
• Compact footprint
• Worldwide availability

Feasibility of PAQUES CBD®

Wastewater (1) is together with recirculation water (6), pumped from the bottom to the top, evenly distributed across the top of the reactor. The water is pumped through nozzles oriented to break up any floating scum. The scraper collects heavy solids from the bottom of the reactor, moving them to a series of hoppers in tank floor, where they are pumped to the recirculation line (2). In certain applications where detrimental solids, such as sand, struvite and other inert solids are expected, a hydrocyclone (3) is employed to selectively remove these unwanted solids from the process stream.

The treated final effluent (8) is discharged for further treatment and ultimate disposal. Biodegradable COD from the influent is converted by the anaerobic biomass to biogas, which leaves the reactor via the biogas pipe (7) at the top of the reactor and is delivered to the downstream biogas handling system.

The experience and expertise of Paques’ engineers ensure that reliability and ease of maintenance are never sacrificed to achieve the CBD's exceptional performance efficiency. The design intention is that all service functions are performed while the System is in operation and the interior of the reactor tank should not require access for at least 10-15 years of continuous operation.