Computational fluid dynamics simulation in scaling-up of airlift photobioreactor for astaxanthin production
Abstract
The unicellular green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis accumulates large amounts of the red ketocarotenoid astaxanthin. Aiming to cultivate these microalgae with high astaxanthin efficiency, cultivations were scaled-up from 1000 mL bottle to 2 L and 8 L airlift photobioreactor using volumetric power consumption rate (W/m 3) as scale up strategy. After cultivations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was used to investigate the flow patterns, mixing efficiency and gas holdup profile within the 2 L photobioreactor. At the end, astaxanthin content was enhanced with increasing the cultivation volume and highest astaxanthin amount of 49.39 ± 1.64 mg/g cell was obtained in 8 L photobioreactor. Hydrodynamic characteristics of photobioreactor was simulated and gas holdup showed difference between the riser and the downcomer regions. Velocity profiles of air and medium had higher values inside the draft tube than obtained in downcomer region. However liquid circulation was achieved from draft tube to the downcomer, mixing was not provided effectively considering the turbulence kinetic energy. For the further research, some developments about column configuration, sparger diameter may be necessary to enhance the mixing characteristics.
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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 [45]
The most commonly used drag models for gas-liquid flows in photobioreactor models are the Schiller-Naumann, Grace, Ishii-Zuber and Tomiyama models.
“According to Table 2, the most commonly used drag models for gas-liquid flows are the Schiller-Naumann [17,25,27,29], Grace [45,135], Ishii-Zuber [18,19,26,136] and Tomiyama models [30,31,125]”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Aslanbay Guler, B., Deniz, I., Demirel, Z., & Imamoglu, E.
- Affiliations
- Ege University (TR)
- Venue
- Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-01
- Volume
- 129
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 86-92
- ISSN
- 1347-4421 (ISSN-L)
- 1389-1723
- OpenAlex
- W2962241699
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9
- FWCI
- 1.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Fluid Dynamics and Mixing
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Computational Mechanics › Granular flow and fluidized beds
- Keywords
- astaxanthin production, Haematococcus pluvialis, airlift photobioreactor, scale-up, gas holdup, mixing efficiency, flow patterns, hydrodynamics, sparger, draft tube, downcomer, ketocarotenoids
- MeSH terms
- Chlorophyta, Kinetics, Light, Xanthophylls, Hydrodynamics, Microalgae, Photobioreactors
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