Ultrasound Velocity Measurement for Bioreactors in Taylor Vortex Flow

Abstract

  Flow measurement of spatio-temporal velocity field in a Taylor-Couette vortex flow (TVF) with a short annulus was investigated with using Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler (UVP). These methods have significant advantages over conventional methods since it can obtain the instantaneous spatio-temporal information as a function of space and time even in opaque multiphase flows like bioreactors. Boundary effects with a short annulus of TVF called Ekman boundary layer are considered generating the various modes of vortex structure. In the present study, axial mean and instantaneous component of velocity profiles in the axis direction are measured with using the UVP and its flow characteristics in higher Reynolds region with the Ekman boundary is analyzed with spectrum method. The wavy vortex flow, the modulated and the chaotic flow are visualized through the spatio-temporal velocity field. These results could be useful for investigating the chemical flow characteristics and designing the industrial chemical devices or bioreactor systems.