Predicción del comportamiento hidrodinámico en el escalado de un reactor de tanque agitado para procesos aerobios, mediante CFD

Abstract

In this paper the effects of some empirical scale up criteria (Re y P/V) on hydrodynamics are analyzed by using CFD simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics) in 0.050 and 0.500m3 stirred tank bioreactors. The effects of turbulence, rotating flow, bubbles breakage and coalescence were simulated by using the k-ε, MRF (Multiple Reference Frame) and PBM (Population Balance Model), respectively. The P/V scale up criteria showed better similar hydrodynamics than Re scale up criteria with respect to the 0.050 m3reactor. However, the high power consumption and cellular damage due to turbulence in animal cell cultures could be disadvantages in large scale prototypes of bioreactors.