Configuration Optimization and Mass Transfer in a Dual-Impeller Bioreactor

Liangzhu Zu; Hongbao Zhou; Shifang Yang; Xiangyang Li; Chao Yang; Zai-Sha Mao

doi:10.1252/jcej.14we018

Special Issue for 4th Asian Conference on Mixing 2013 (ACOM4)

Configuration Optimization and Mass Transfer in a Dual-Impeller Bioreactor

Liangzhu Zu, Hongbao Zhou, Shifang Yang, Xiangyang Li, Chao Yang, Zai-Sha Mao

Author information

Liangzhu Zu
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hongbao Zhou
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shifang Yang
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiangyang Li
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chao Yang
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zai-Sha Mao
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Keywords: Bioreactors, Leaching, Low Shear, Gas–Liquid–Solid, Mass Transfer, Mixing

JOURNAL RESTRICTED ACCESS

2015 Volume 48 Issue 5 Pages 360-366

DOI https://doi.org/10.1252/jcej.14we018

Details

Abstract

The bioreactor configuration including a dual-impeller combination, spacing between the impellers, and the diameter of the ring sparger is optimized based on solid suspension (N_jsg) and gas dispersion (N_f and k_La) in this work. Then, the solid suspension and gas dispersion performance in this optimized bioreactor are systematically studied. It is found that a smaller sparger (D_s/T=0.32) achieves better performance in gas dispersion. A pitched-blade disc turbine down-pumping (PDTD) as a bottom impeller achieves the lowest N_jsg value, and has lower N_f value compared with PBTD (pitched blade turbine down-pumping) and TBHA (three-bladed helical agitator). Techmix 335 hydrofoil impeller down-pumping (TXD) as an upper impeller provides higher k_La values. TXD+PDTD are more suitable for the requirements of a bioreactor. k_La decreases slightly with increasing solid loading, which is beneficial to good gas dispersion in such bioleaching reactors with higher solid loadings (>20 wt%).

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!