Optimal Design of Double Stage Internal Loop Air-Lift Bioreactor

Abstract

Biorefinery systems play a critical role in the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy, and bioreactors are a key component in these systems. While mechanically stirred reactors have been extensively studied, there is a lack of research on pneumatically driven systems like air-lift reactors (ALRs). This study aims to address this gap by examining the hydrodynamic behavior of a double draft tube airlift bioreactor using Computational fluid dynamics simulations. Ten different geometric configurations were investigated, with variations in draft tube placement, liquid height, distance between draft tubes and draft tube diameters. Results showed that the placement of the draft tubes heavily influenced hydrodynamic behavior, with smaller distances between draft tubes and a funnel configuration leading to higher velocities. Stable downcomer velocities were achieved by maintaining a consistent distance between the bottom clearance and the sum of the distance between draft tubes and the bottom clearance on the top clearance. The model was validated against literature experimental data. This study provides insight into the optimal design of ALRs, which can contribute to the development of more efficient and effective bioreactor systems. The findings can be used to forecast the most optimal configurations of airlift bioreactors and have significant value for the development of more efficient biorefining concepts in light of the increasing importance of studying biorefineries and their components in the shift towards a biomass-based economy.