title: Analyzing and modeling of photobioreactors by combining first principles of physiology and hydrodynamics.
abstract: Mixing in photobioreactors is known to enhance biomass productivity considerably, and flow dynamics play a significant role in the reactor's performance, as they determine the mixing and the cells' movement. In this work we focus on analyzing the effects of mixing and flow dynamics on the photobioreactor performance. Based on hydrodynamic findings from the CARPT(Computer Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking) technique, a possible mechanism for the interaction between the mixing and the physiology of photosynthesis is presented, and the effects of flow dynamics on light availability and light intensity fluctuation are discussed and quantitatively characterized. Furthermore, a dynamic modeling approach is developed for photobioreactor performance evaluation, which integrates first principles of photosynthesis, hydrodynamics, and irradiance distribution within the reactor. The results demonstrate the reliability and the possible applicability of this approach to commercially interesting microalgae/cyanobacteria culture systems.
authors.affiliation: Bioprocess and Bioreactor Engineering Laboratory (BBEL), Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CREL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130-4899, USA.
authors.forename: Hu-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Muthanna H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Al-Dahhan
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D018462:Photobiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010827:Physiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods