Hydraulic characteristics and their effects on working performance of compartmentalized anaerobic reactor

► The compartmentalized anaerobic reactor (CAR) is a patent, novel, high-rate reactor. ► The relation of HDS (Vh) with HLR (L) and BPR (G) was established: Vh = 3.75L + 0.19G − 9.47. ► The hydraulic efficiency of CAR was proved to be good with less effect of HLR and BPR at high OLRs. ► The effective volume ratios of CAR was also good almost without influence of BPR at high OLRs. ► The good working performance of CAR was ascribed to the improved reactor configuration.