ISSN:
1573-0778
Keywords:
3-D PTV
;
bioreactor agitation
;
flow structures
;
scale-up
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Abstract Three dimensional particle tracking velocimetry (3-D PTV) was used to characterize the flow fields in the impeller region of three microcarrier reactor vessels. Three typical cell culture bioreactors were chosen: 250 ml small-scale spinner vessels, 3 L bench-scale reactor, and 20 L medium-scale reactor. Conditions studied correspond to the actual operating conditions in industrial setting and were determined based on the current scale-up paradigm: the Kolmogorov eddy length criterion. In this paper we present characterization of hydrodynamics on the basis of flow structures produced because of agitation. Flow structures were determined from 3-D mean velocity results obtained using 3-D PTV. Although the impellers used in 3 L and 20 L reactors were almost identical, the flow structures produced in the two reactors differed considerably. Results indicate that near geometric scale up does not necessarily amount to scale-up of flow patterns and indicates that intensity as well as distribution of energy may vary considerably during such a scale-up.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00353928
