Improving of gas-liquid mass transfer in a Stirred Tank Bioreactor: A CFD Approach

摘要

In this study CFD simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics) were developed in order to study the gas-liquid mass transfer in a 1000 L spin filter bioreactor configurated with a conventional Spin filter. Based on CFD results, three new geometries are proposed for improving gas liquid mass-transfer: (Geometry I) a micro-sparger and a curved bottom Spin filter with lateral axial blades, (Geometry II) a diffuser type spider and a curved bottom Spin filter with lateral axial blades and (Geometry III), a hybrid model with axial and radial blades. The numerical results based on typical animal culturing conditions are simulated and k_La mass transfer was estimated to be 61 percent higher than the conventional flat bottom spin filter when the Geometry II was analyzed in CFD. Similar enhancements were found for the other two new geometries (I and III). Motivated by these results, the new spin filter device (Geometry II) is qualified as a very promising tool for animal cell culture applications which are characterized by the constrain of achieving relatively high mass transfer conditions and avoiding cellular damage.