Open AccessOptimization of mixing in stirred bioreactors, 2: Selection of optimum impeller combinations for non-aerated simulated broths
Author(s) -
AncaIrina Galaction,
Elena Folescu,
Dan Caşcaval
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
chemical industry and chemical engineering quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.189
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 2217-7434
pISSN - 1451-9372
DOI - 10.2298/ciceq0701021g
Subject(s) - impeller , mixing (physics) , aeration , rushton turbine , bioreactor , agitator , turbine , power consumption , materials science , continuous stirred tank reactor , process engineering , power (physics) , mechanics , chemistry , mechanical engineering , engineering , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , waste management , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Although radial impellers, especially the Rushton turbine, are widely used in stirred bioreactors, their applicability is limited by the high apparent viscosities of the broths. For optimizing mechanical mixing by selecting the appropriate impeller for a specific fermentation broth or process, the comparative analysis of the mixing efficiency, energy costs and shear effects on the biocatalysts is required. By means of this analysis, three different combinations of radial impellers for water and viscous simulated broths were selected for attaining optimum mixing in a bioreactor. The proposed impellers combinations offer the most intense and uniformly distributed mixing and the lowest specific power consumption required for reaching a maximum level of mixing time of less than one minute.