Design optimization of a bioreactor for ethanol production using CFD simulation and genetic algorithms

Abstract

The increase of the use of biofuels, like bioethanol, has presented new challenges to engineering problems. The optimization of bioreactors is crucial to improve the bioethanol extraction and to avoid stagnant zones in the flow that can compromise the chemical reactions involved in the process. This paper presents a solution using Computational Fluid Dynamics tools coupled with Genetics Algorithm to find an improved reactor structure. The preliminary results show that the influence of the height outlet tube alone is able to modify completely the flow pattern inside the reactor, improving the efficiency of the reactor. © 2011 WIT Press.