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Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in an airlift loop fermentor

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Summary

The hydrodynamics and mass transfer behaviour of an airlift fermentor with an external loop (height 10m) has been investigated by measuring gas and liquid velocities, gas hold-up, liquid mixing and oxygen transfer coefficients. Liquid phase properties, i.e., ionic strength, viscosity and surface tension have been varied by altering the fermentation media. Results are compared with those from bubble column experiments performed in the same unit. It is shown, that more uniform two-phase flow in the airlift leads to advantages in scale-up and operation.

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Abbreviations

a:

Specific interfacial area per volume of dispersion (m2/m3)

c:

Local concentration of tracer (kmol/m3)

c∞ :

Concentration of tracer at infinite time (kmol/m3)

CL :

Concentration of oxygen in the liquid bulk (kmol/m3)

CL * :

Concentration of oxygen in the interface (kmol/m3)

Dax :

Axial dispersion coefficient (cm2/s)

I:

Ionic strength (kmol/m3)

i:

Inhomogeneity [defined in Eq. (2)]

\(dot n\) :

Rate of oxygen transfer (kmol/s)

tc :

Circulation time (s)

tM :

Mixing time (s)

VR :

Volume of gas-liquid dispersion (m3)

VSG :

Superficial gas velocity in up-flow column (m/s)

βL :

Oxygen transfer coefficient (m/s)

η:

Dynamic viscosity (m Pa s)

σ:

Surface tension (m N/m)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Technische Chemie B, Universität Dortmund, Emil-Figge-Straße, D-4600, Dortmund 50, Federal Republic of Germany

    Ulfert Onken & Peter Weiland

Authors
  1. Ulfert Onken
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  2. Peter Weiland
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Onken, U., Weiland, P. Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in an airlift loop fermentor. European J. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 10, 31–40 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00504725

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00504725

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