Bioreactors: Airlift Reactors

Abstract

ALRs are popular in modern bioprocess research and development and, in many cases, they have found industrial uses. The distinctive characteristics of ALRs are conferred by the fluid dynamics of the liquid‐gas or liquid gas‐solid mixtures: holdup, liquid velocity, and mixing in the riser, gas separator, and downcomer. Only a correct understanding of the interconnection of these regions can make possible the scale‐up of a laboratory device, to pilot or industrial size. Several correlations are available in the literature for the prediction of the fluid dynamic characteristics of the reactor and of the mass and heat transfer coefficients, and a selection is presented in this review. Significant progress has been made in the application of modern computational tools to the simulation and design of ALRs. In parallel, innovative and sophisticated methods have been applied to obtain a deeper insight into the mechanisms of fluid motion and the flow patterns in the reactor. However, no single research group has managed to cover all the variables over a wide range. The engineer confronting scale‐up or de novo design of an ALR must analyze the validity of the correlations and computation methods used for the calculations.

Gas‐Liquid Hydrodynamics and Mass Transfer in Aqueous Alcohol Solutions in a Split‐Cylinder Airlift Reactor

“…However, bubble column reactors have the same advantages as an airlift reactor but the latter is superior due to generation of a well-structured flow pattern [1,3]. In an airlift reactor, a vertical baffle or a concentric draft tube is used to divide the cylindrical reactor vessel into a riser zone and a down-comer zone [1,3]. Only the riser zone is generally sparged with the gas.…”

“…Fluid mixing and gas-liquid mass transfer in an airlift reactor are achieved using a compressed gas which is mostly air. Furthermore, there is no mechanical agitation which simplifies its mechanical design and reduces power and maintenance costs [1][2][3]. However, bubble column reactors have the same advantages as an airlift reactor but the latter is superior due to generation of a well-structured flow pattern [1,3].…”

“…Furthermore, there is no mechanical agitation which simplifies its mechanical design and reduces power and maintenance costs [1][2][3]. However, bubble column reactors have the same advantages as an airlift reactor but the latter is superior due to generation of a well-structured flow pattern [1,3]. In an airlift reactor, a vertical baffle or a concentric draft tube is used to divide the cylindrical reactor vessel into a riser zone and a down-comer zone [1,3].…”

Diseño de un fotobiorreactor Airlift a escala banco

“…Así mismo, este tipo de diseño tiene una influencia significativa en la dinámica de fluidos del reactor y por lo tanto en el rendimiento y la productividad de biomasa [18]; y al ser sus patrones hidrodinámicos más definibles, se hace posible desarrollar modelos predictivos con una buena confiabilidad. Por tal motivo, en este caso de estudio se seleccionó el diseño de un fotobiorreactor Airlift (FBR-ARL), con configuración de tubos.…”

“…El conocimiento actual a nivel de fotobiorreactores es extenso, generado a partir de problemas cada vez más particulares y específicos como la aplicación de dinámica de fluidos al diseño de fotobiorreactores [18], la captura de CO 2 y el tratamiento de aguas acoplada al escalamiento de biorrefinerías, aplicación de dinámica de fluidos computacional para definir las condiciones de iluminación de la biomasa, transferencia de CO 2 a la biomasa, la transferencia de luz, la interacción entre modelos fotosintéticos y procesos de producción de biomasa, entre otros.…”