Intense Vortex Motion in a Two-Phase Bioreactor

Abstract

The paper reports the results of experimental and numerical studies of vortex motion in an industrial-scale glass bioreactor (volume, 8.5 L; reactor vessel diameter D, 190 mm) filled 50–80%. The model culture medium was a 65% aqueous glycerol solution with the density ρg = 1150 kg/m3 and kinematic viscosity νg = 15 mm2/s. The methods of particle image velocimetry and adaptive track visualization allow one to observe and measure the vortex motion of the culture medium. In this work, the vortex flow investigation was performed in a practical bioreactor at the operation regimes. Our research determines not only the optimal flow structure, but also the optimal activator rotation speed, which is especially important in the opaque biological culture. The main result is that, similar to the case of two rotating immiscible liquids, a strongly swirling jet is formed near the axis, and the entire flow acquires the pattern of a miniature gas–liquid tornado. The aerating gas interacts with the liquid only through the free surface, without any mixing. This intensifies the interphase mass transfer due to the high-speed motion of the aerating gas.