Impacts and mechanisms of hydrodynamic effects on methane production and emission in gravity-flow sewers

YANG Shiyao; TANG Baiyang; DU Jiamin; LIU Weijing; XUE Zhaoxia; CAO Jiashun; LUO Jingyang; FENG Qian

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202504019

Volume 43 Issue 4

Apr. 2025

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(4): 194-203

YANG S Y，TANG B Y，DU J M，et al.Impacts and mechanisms of hydrodynamic effects on methane production and emission in gravity-flow sewers［J］.Environmental Engineering，2025，43（4）：194-203. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202504019

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Impacts and mechanisms of hydrodynamic effects on methane production and emission in gravity-flow sewers

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202504019

1. Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Management and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
2. College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
3. Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing 210036, China

Received Date: 2023-12-21
Accepted Date: 2024-04-08
Rev Recd Date: 2024-03-29
Publish Date: 2025-04-01

Abstract

Abstract

The impacts and mechanisms of methane （CH₄） production and emission in municipal gravity-flow sewer system under dual-carbon constraints is a critical topic in wastewater management， serving as the foundation for advancing pollution reduction and carbon mitigation technologies. This study examined the hydrodynamic characteristics of municipal gravity-flow sewers， focusing on spatial and temporal scales. The results demonstrated that the water flow exhibited unsteady， turbulent， and secondary-flow characteristics. The study then explored how hydrodynamic factors such as pipeline flow rate， hydraulic residence time（HRT）， and shear stress influenced methane production and emission. The findings indicated that methane production exhibited an increasing trend and subsequently decreased with an increase in flow rate and shear force within a specified range， demonstrating proportionality with the HRT. It also analyzed the effects of hydrodynamics on methane production and emission， considering pipeline sediment settlement， erosion， nutrient， and dissolved oxygen transfer. It revealeds that flow velocity and shear stress affected sediment formation and subsequent suspension， and hydrodynamic force introduced air into water， altering dissolved oxygen levels and impacting the anaerobic environment for methanogenic archaea. These actions also influenced nutrient mass transfer and microbial growth. The mechanisms by which hydrodynamics influence methane production and emission in wastewater pipelines were elucidated from three perspectives： gas migration， microbial community distribution， and metabolic pathways. Future research directions include investigating the unsteady and turbulent characteristics within wastewater pipelines， erosion of microbial-attached sediment surfaces， and the mechanisms by which hydrodynamics affect methane production and emission. These findings contribute to understanding methane production and emission processes in gravity-flow sewers and support the development， construction， operation， and maintenance of low-carbon sewage networks.
- sewer,
- carbon emission,
- hydrodynamic force,
- sediment,
- methane

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References(58)

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