CFD analysis of the flow dynamics of microorganisms in dilute cultures in stirred tank photobioreactors. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saini, Raj Kumar; Wangikar, Pramod P.; Bose, Manaswita
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology reports. Volume 3(2018)
• Page Start: 238
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Stirred tank photobioreactor -- CFD -- Microorganisms -- Light intensity; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biotransformation (Metabolism) -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel; Organic wastes; Factory and trade waste; Biotransformation (Metabolism); Biomass energy; Agricultural wastes; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2018.07.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2589-014X

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of the present work is to investigate the influence of the key factors such as the impeller speed in revolutions per minute and frequency of crossover of the particles between the light and the dark zones on the growth of microalgae in a stirred tank photobioreactor. To that end, the numerical simulations are performed for the culture in a stirred tank photobioreactor using computational fluid dynamics. The culture medium and the sparged air are considered to be two interpenetrating continua. Based on the light intensity profiles within, the reactor is divided into light and dark zones. Individual microorganisms are tracked. The fractional time spent by them in the dark zone, and the average frequency of crossover between the zones, are determined. The critical impeller speed for the maximum cell growth is compared against the experimental observation reported in literature and the maximum tolerable shear stress is identified. Highlights: Trajectory of cyanobacteria in a stirred tank photobioreactor is simu- lated. Crossover frequency of cells between the dark and the light zones is determined. Crossover frequency influences growth not the fraction of time in the light zone. There is an optimum crossover frequency for maximum growth.