Role of Turbulence in Fermentations

Abstract

This paper raises the need for a systematic evaluation of non-linear interaction between various turbulent-driven physical processes in fermentors. Various turbulent/mixing studies published in the literature are formalized based on a multidimensional framework. This formalization leads us to the limitations of many existing approaches and scale-up rules to mixing problems. The results on the effects of micromixing and fluid shear on yeast cells will be presented as an example to show the possibility of a non-linear interaction. A micro-environmental approach is proposed whereby the effects of multiple turbulent-driven physical processes in the micro-environments of cells can be evaluated.