Comprehensive computational model for combining fluid hydrodynamics, light transport and biomass growth in a Taylor vortex algal photobioreactor: Lagrangian approach
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A comprehensive quantitative model incorporating the effects of fluid flow patterns, light distribution, and algal growth kinetics on biomass growth rate is developed in order to predict the performance of a Taylor vortex algal photobioreactor for culturing Chlorella vulgaris. A commonly used Lagrangian strategy for coupling the various factors influencing algal growth was employed whereby results from computational fluid dynamics and radiation transport simulations were used to compute numerous microorganism light exposure histories, and this information in turn was used to estimate the global biomass specific growth rate. The simulations provide good quantitative agreement with experimental data and correctly predict the trend in reactor performance as a key reactor operating parameter is varied (inner cylinder rotation speed). However, biomass growth curves are consistently over-predicted and potential causes for these over-predictions and drawbacks of the Lagrangian approach are addressed.
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One can mainly distinguish between two approaches for light transfer modeling: one-dimensional model equations and the Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE).
“One can mainly distinguish between two approaches: firstly, one-dimensional model equations which enable quick and simple estimates of the light intensity with respect to the distance from the light source [23,24,31,36,39,41,43,125] and secondly, the Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE) [18,26-28,34], whose solution requires the application of numerical methods.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [31]
The majority of gas-liquid flows in photobioreactor CFD models are modeled in the Eulerian-Eulerian formulation, as two interpenetrating continua.
“According to Table 1, the majority of gas-liquid flows is modeled in the EulerianEulerian formulation [18,25-27,29-31,39-42,45,125,135,136], thus, as two interpenetrating continua.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [31]
Microalgae cells are mostly modeled as discrete objects in photobioreactor CFD models.
“In contrast, microalgae cells are mostly modeled as discrete objects [23,24,26-29,31,34,36-38,136].”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [31]
The combination of models often leads to simplified and inaccurate light predictions, considering algebraic light models based on Lambert-Beer and others.
“This often leads to simplified and inaccurate light predictions, considering algebraic light models based on Lambert-Beer and others [6,14,15].”
From Comprehensive Computational Model for Coupled Fluid Flow, Mass Transfer, and Light Supply in Tubular Photobioreactors Equipped with Glass Sponges (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
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- Authors
- Gao, X., Kong, B., & Vigil, R. D.
- Affiliations
- Iowa State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Vigil, R. Dennis
- Venue
- Bioresource Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-01
- Volume
- 224
- Pages
- 523-530
- ISSN
- 0960-8524 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2548169627
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 1.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 347 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Bioresource Technology (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (CBET-1236676)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Fluid Dynamics and Mixing
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- algal photobioreactors, Chlorella vulgaris, light distribution, flow patterns, algal growth kinetics, biomass growth rate, radiative transfer, computational fluid dynamics coupling
- MeSH terms
- Biotechnology, Computer Simulation, Kinetics, Light, Models, Theoretical, Biomass, Chlorella vulgaris, Hydrodynamics, Microalgae, Photobioreactors
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