Characterization of mixing performance in bioreactors using flow-following sensor devices

A quantitative description of flow and mixing in bioreactors is necessary to assess the exposure microorganisms suboptimal conditions, which may negatively impact key performance parameters a process, such as yield productivity. The traditional approach quantifying mixing, by means terminal time, inadequate because it rests on assumption that homogeneous state reached, provides little information process itself. In this study, has been demonstrated how flow-following sensor devices can be used obtain detailed knowledge macroscopic stirred under turbulent conditions. generated common impeller types; Rushton disc turbine pitched blade turbine, examined terms axial features circulation times various levels agitation. It was useful characterize vessel, distribution velocity profile could obtained for Based these observed following behavior were affected at higher speeds. This finding corroborated CFD simulations vessel. mean determined found highly correlated from homogenization chemical tracer (tm = 2.2–2.6 t¯c), demonstrates quantify macromixing bioreactors. Furthermore, underlying time distributions derived, well described lognormal probability distribution.