LAPSE:2025.0537
Published Article
LAPSE:2025.0537
CFD Simulations of Mixing Dynamics and Photobioreaction Kinetics in Miniature Bioreactors under Transitional Flow Regimes
June 27, 2025
Abstract
Miniaturised stirred bioreactors are crucial in high-throughput bioprocesses for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. To accelerate process optimisation in chemical and bioprocess industries, models that integrate CFD-predicted flow fields with (bio)reaction kinetics are needed. However, conventional two-step coupling methods, which freeze flow fields after solving hydrodynamics and then address (bio)reaction transport, face numerical challenges in miniaturised systems due to unsteady radial flows, recirculation zones, and secondary vortices. These flow fluctuations prevent steady-state hydrodynamic convergence. This study addresses these challenges by time-averaging the RANS solutions of the transitional SST model to achieve statistical hydrodynamic convergence. This method is particularly effective for internal flow problems at low to midrange Reynolds numbers (100 W/m²) due to light limitation. This model provides a framework for optimising stirring speeds and refining operational parameters, aiding in the scale-up and scale-down of bioprocesses.
Miniaturised stirred bioreactors are crucial in high-throughput bioprocesses for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. To accelerate process optimisation in chemical and bioprocess industries, models that integrate CFD-predicted flow fields with (bio)reaction kinetics are needed. However, conventional two-step coupling methods, which freeze flow fields after solving hydrodynamics and then address (bio)reaction transport, face numerical challenges in miniaturised systems due to unsteady radial flows, recirculation zones, and secondary vortices. These flow fluctuations prevent steady-state hydrodynamic convergence. This study addresses these challenges by time-averaging the RANS solutions of the transitional SST model to achieve statistical hydrodynamic convergence. This method is particularly effective for internal flow problems at low to midrange Reynolds numbers (100 W/m²) due to light limitation. This model provides a framework for optimising stirring speeds and refining operational parameters, aiding in the scale-up and scale-down of bioprocesses.
Record ID
Keywords
Bioreaction kinetics, CFD modelling, Light attenuation and transport, Miniaturised stirred bioreactors, Photobioreactor
Subject
Suggested Citation
Cho BA, Teke GM, Gakingo GK, Pott RW, Zhang D. CFD Simulations of Mixing Dynamics and Photobioreaction Kinetics in Miniature Bioreactors under Transitional Flow Regimes. Systems and Control Transactions 4:2398-2404 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.197756
Author Affiliations
Cho BA: Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Teke GM: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Gakingo GK: Department of Chemical Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Nyeri, Kenya
Pott RW: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Zhang D: Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Teke GM: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Gakingo GK: Department of Chemical Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Nyeri, Kenya
Pott RW: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Zhang D: Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
2398
Last Page
2404
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 2398-2404-1527-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
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Published Article
LAPSE:2025.0537
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https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.197756
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Jun 27, 2025
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References Cited
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