THE EXTERNAL DRAFT TUBE GASLIFT BIOREACTOR: HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PARAMETRIC OPTIMIZATION

Gaslift reactors are employed in several bioapplications due to their characteristics of cost-effectiveness and high efficiency. However, the nutrient and thermal gradient is one of the obstacles that stand in the way of its widespread use in biological applications. The diagnosis, analysis, and tracking of fluid paths in external draft tube gaslift bioreactor-type are the main topics of the current study. Several parameters were considered to assess the mixing efficiency such as downcomer-to-rizer diameter ratio (Ded/Dr), the position of the diffuser to the height of bioreactor ratio (Pd/Lr), and gas bubble size (Db). The multiple regression of liquid velocity indicates the optimal setting: Ded/Dr is (0.5), Pd/Lr is (0.02), and Db is (400) um. However, for technical and operational reasons, it was necessary to make some changes in the optimal values obtained from the numerical equations. The study also revealed that the size of gas bubbles is the characteristic that has the greatest influence on the dynamic efficiency of the fluid inside the bioreactor, since, reducing the bubble size by half can enhance the improvement rate in the circulation of the liquid up to 35%.