Optimised hydrodynamic parameters for the design of photobioreactors using computational fluid dynamics and experimental validation
Abstract
A numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was utilised to investigate the flow hydrodynamics of cylindrical bubble column type photobioreactors (PBRs) with a 30l culture medium. To establish the reliability of the simulation study, the CFD model was validated using particle image velocimetry (PIV) computed data under various air flow rates. There were 32 simulation cases for the study comprising two PBR designs, four air flow rates and four nozzle size diameters. Hydrodynamic analyses such as % volume of dead zones, average circulation time and turbulence intensity inside the simulated PBRs were evaluated. Results have shown that the most appropriate PBR for microalgae cultivation was a design with internal baffle and an extended cone-shaped bottom section. In addition, the recommended nozzle diameter was found to be 10 mm and a minimum air flow rate of 0.10 vvm. To eliminate dead zones inside the PBR, the flow rate can be slightly increased but should not exceed 0.15 vvm. Practical evaluation through laboratory experiments has further confirmed the results of the study where the biomass concentration of Chlorella vulgaris from the proposed PBR was significantly higher compared to the standard PBR design. Based on the numerical investigation and practical evaluation, the improved PBR can be seen to be more effective in culturing microalgae particularly for larger scale mass production.
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The gas superficial velocity typically ranges between 10^-4 and 10^-1 m/s.
“Another characteristic operation parameter is the gas superficial velocity ug = ˙ Vg / A 0 which relates the gas volume flow rate ˙ Vg to the cross-section A 0 of the reactor and typically ranges between 10 -4 and 10 -1 ms -1 [44,66-69].”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [44]
The literature includes models for two-phase gas-liquid flows, solid-liquid flows, or three-phase gas-solid-liquid flows.
“The literature includes models for two-phase gasliquid flows [17-19,25,39-42,44,45,125,135], solid-liquid flows [21,23,24,34,36-38,126] or three-phase gas-solid-liquid flows [19,26-31,136].”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Bitog, J. P. P., Lee, I.-B., Oh, H.-M., Hong, S.-W., Seo, I.-H., & Kwon, K.-S.
- Affiliations
- Nueva Vizcaya State University (PH)
- Seoul National University (KR)
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KR)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Lee, In-Bok
- Venue
- Biosystems Engineering
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-06
- Volume
- 122
- Pages
- 42-61
- ISSN
- 1537-5110 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2045442042
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 1.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biosystems Engineering (publishedVersion)
- KRIBB Repository (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Fluid Dynamics and Mixing
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Keywords
- photobioreactor design, bubble column photobioreactor, hydrodynamics, microalgae cultivation, Chlorella vulgaris, air flow rate, nozzle diameter, internal baffles, dead zone, circulation time, turbulence intensity, particle image velocimetry validation, biomass concentration
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