Hydraulic Reactor Sizing
Determine the governing reactor area from design flow and adopted upflow-velocity limits.
Engineering Calculation Module
UASB Reactor
Design Calculation
Design and evaluate an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor using a structured Excel workflow for automatic hydraulic sizing, reactor-module configuration, influent distribution, gas-solid separation, settler and aperture checks, treatment-performance estimation, biogas generation, sludge production, and final design review.
AUTO
Automatic Geometry SelectionScreens trial module counts and practical plan dimensions.
↑
Hydraulic ReviewUpflow velocity, HRT, and volumetric loading remain linked.
GSS
Internal ComponentsDistribution, gas separation, aperture, and settler geometry.
✓
PASS / CHECK StatusImplemented hydraulic and component criteria summarized automatically.
What This Module Helps You Design
Use one connected workflow to size the reactor, establish a practical module arrangement, review the internal hydraulic components, estimate process performance, and summarize the preliminary UASB design.
Module Configuration
Screen reactor module counts and rounded plan dimensions until a feasible configuration is found.
Influent Distribution
Estimate distributor quantity and representative influence area at the reactor bottom.
Gas-Solid Separation
Size gas collector / three-phase separator quantity and review biogas release rate.
Aperture & Settler
Evaluate aperture velocity, equivalent opening area, effective settler area, and surface loading.
Process & Resource Estimate
Estimate COD/BOD removal, methane and total biogas production, and excess sludge generation.
Calculation Coverage
The workbook links reactor hydraulics, internal components, treatment estimates, and final design checks to the same selected geometry.
Design Flows
Average, maximum-hour, and optional temporary-peak influent flow.
Upflow Velocity
Average, maximum, and optional peak-flow velocity checks.
Hydraulic Retention Time
Average and maximum-flow HRT linked to the final reactor geometry.
Volumetric Loading
Hydraulic loading at average, maximum, and peak conditions.
Module Dimensions
Module count, width, length, useful height, and total volume.
Distributor Layout
Distributor quantity, manifold concept, and influence-area review.
Biogas Handling Basis
Collector count, collection area, gas release rate, methane and biogas production.
Aperture Geometry
Equivalent aperture count, opening width, total area, and velocity checks.
Settler Review
Effective settler area, compartment geometry, and surface-loading checks.
Engineering Workflow
A clear path from project wastewater data to a checked preliminary reactor configuration.
1
Enter Project Data
Flow, COD/BOD, temperature, sludge and gas assumptions.
2
Set Hydraulic Basis
Target velocity, preferred height, module limits, and plan ratio.
3
Auto-Select Geometry
Screen area multipliers, module counts, and rounded dimensions.
4
Size Internals
Distribution, GSS, apertures, and effective settler area.
5
Estimate Performance
COD/BOD removal, biogas, methane, and excess sludge.
6
Review Final Status
Confirm implemented hydraulic and internal-component checks.
Workbook Preview
Actual UASB workbook screenshots. Images are sharpened for web display while preserving the original workbook content.
Designed for Engineering Review
UASB design links hydraulic criteria, internal geometry, treatment estimates, and gas/sludge outputs. The workbook keeps these relationships visible in one review path.
| Design Area | Key Review Output | Engineering Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic sizing | Area, volume, velocity, HRT | Establish the governing reactor geometry |
| Module configuration | Module count, L × W × H | Convert hydraulic area into a practical arrangement |
| Distribution | Distributor count and influence area | Review bottom-feed distribution density |
| Gas separator / aperture | Collector count, gas release, aperture velocity | Review upper-zone hydraulic and gas-handling basis |
| Settler | Effective area and surface loading | Check preliminary solids-separation geometry |
| Process estimate | COD/BOD removal, biogas, sludge | Summarize preliminary treatment and resource outputs |
No Black Box
Know how the selected UASB geometry was reached.
The workbook starts from design flow and hydraulic criteria, then screens module arrangements and checks the selected geometry against the implemented design basis.
Example calculation path
Design Basis
Average flowProject input
Target upflow velocitySelected basis
Project hydraulic data establish the initial reactor-area requirement.
→
Hydraulic Sizing
A ≈ Q / v
Required reactor area
Required area is recalculated against the governing design-flow condition.
→
Auto-Selected Geometry
Module countSelected automatically
Plan dimensionsRounded to practical increments
StatusPASS / CHECK
The selected configuration is accepted only when implemented checks are satisfied.
Built-in Design Checks
The workbook summarizes the implemented hydraulic and internal-component criteria as PASS / CHECK outputs.
| Check Item | Workbook Review | Why It Matters | Status Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average upflow velocity | Compares final area with the selected operating basis | Controls hydraulic contact and sludge-bed stability | PASS / CHECK |
| Maximum-flow velocity & HRT | Reviews the selected geometry at higher design flow | Confirms hydraulic capacity under governing flow | PASS / CHECK |
| Volumetric hydraulic loading | Checks reactor volume against design flow | Links total volume to hydraulic loading | PASS / CHECK |
| Distributor influence area | Reviews feed-point density across reactor area | Supports preliminary hydraulic distribution review | PASS / CHECK |
| Biogas release rate | Checks gas production against collector area | Supports preliminary gas-separator sizing review | PASS / CHECK |
| Aperture & settler loading | Reviews velocity and effective settling area | Checks upper-zone hydraulic separation conditions | PASS / CHECK |
What's Included
A standardized AIDIA workbook structure for calculation, documentation, criteria management, and design review.
READ ME
Purpose, calculation basis, engineering responsibility, references, and support information.
Cover
Project information and revision fields for engineering documentation.
Calculation
Inputs, hydraulic sizing, internal components, treatment estimates, and final checks.
Dashboard
Top and side views, module dimensions, effluent estimate, and key design checks.
Design Criteria
Central criteria sheet for reactor hydraulics, distribution, gas separator, aperture, and settler checks.
Abbreviations
Engineering symbols, terminology, and units used throughout the module.
AIDIA Helps With
- Preliminary UASB reactor sizing
- Automatic module and geometry screening
- Hydraulic and internal-component checks
- COD/BOD performance screening
- Methane, biogas, and sludge estimation
AIDIA Does Not Replace
- Project-specific engineering judgement
- Guaranteed effluent-performance design
- Gas-tightness, gas safety, and venting design
- Structural, corrosion, piping, and mechanical design
- Professional engineering approval
Related Modules
Explore other AIDIA modules that connect with wastewater-treatment design.
Start with a structured UASB reactor calculation.
Bring hydraulic sizing, auto-selected geometry, internal components, treatment estimates, biogas, sludge production, and design review into one connected AIDIA Excel workflow.