Startseite Hydrodynamic comparison of different geometries of square cross-section airlift bioreactor using computational fluid dynamics
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Hydrodynamic comparison of different geometries of square cross-section airlift bioreactor using computational fluid dynamics

  • Mateus N. Esperança ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Marcel O. Cerri , Vítor T. Mazziero , Rodrigo Béttega und Alberto C. Badino
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 7. Juli 2023

Abstract

The hydrodynamics of airlift bioreactors, which offer an interesting alternative to conventional stirred-tank bioreactors, has generally been evaluated using experimental approaches, requiring time, energy, and reagents. However, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as an important and valuable tool for the analysis and design of these devices, saving time and experimental effort, while providing a large amount of information. In this study, four geometries of a square cross-section 10-L split airlift bioreactor operating with distilled water were simulated using CFD, and the hydrodynamics variables gas hold-up and liquid velocity were evaluated. CFD satisfactorily predicted the hydrodynamic parameters, when compared to experimental data, allowing adequate prediction of the shear rate distribution in airlift bioreactors. The results indicated that different shear rate distributions were obtained by geometric modifications in the bioreactor, showing that its design should be considered to satisfy different specific bioprocess requirements.


Corresponding author: Mateus N. Esperança, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo, Campus Capivari, Capivari, SP, 13360-000, Brazil, E-mail:

Award Identifier / Grant number: Finance Code 001

Funding source: Human Resources Program of the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels

Award Identifier / Grant number: PRH/ANP-39

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2011/23807-1

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2012/17756-8

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2020/08699-7

Award Identifier / Grant number: 309728/2021-5

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by the Human Resources Program of the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (PRH/ANP-39), Coordenaçã çoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES, Finance Code 001), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grant 309728/2021-5), and the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP, grants 2011/23807-1, 2012/17756-8, and 2020/08699-7).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/ijcre-2023-0010).


Received: 2023-01-12
Accepted: 2023-06-27
Published Online: 2023-07-07

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