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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 and Alberto C. Badino
Published/Copyright: July 7, 2023
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International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering
From the journal International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering Volume 21 Issue 10

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.

Keywords: airlift bioreactor; computational fluid dynamics; gas hold-up; hydrodynamic; shear rate
Corresponding author: Mateus N. Esperança, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo, Campus Capivari, Capivari, SP, 13360-000, Brazil, E-mail:

Funding source: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

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

Funding source: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2011/23807-1

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2012/17756-8

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2020/08699-7

Funding source: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

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

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijcre-2023-0010
Keywords for this article
airlift bioreactor; computational fluid dynamics; gas hold-up; hydrodynamic; shear rate

Articles in the same Issue

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  2. Articles
  3. Methylene blue removal from aqueous solution using modified Met-SWCNT-Ag nanoparticles: optimization using RSM-CCD
  4. Leaching behavior of germanium presented in different phases from zinc oxide dust under atmospheric acid leaching conditions
  5. TiO2 P25 and Kronos vlp 7000 materials activated by simulated solar light for atrazine degradation
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