BPE-21306 Bioreactor Design

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BPE-20806 Separation Process Design.

Continuation courses:

BPE-60312 Bioprocess Design; Food Process Engineering (FPE).

Contents:

This course is the third in a series of process engineering courses in the BSc Biotechnology. It applies the systematic design approach taught in BPE-10305 or BPE12806 and in BPE-20806 to multi-phase bioreactors with homogeneous and inhomogeneous liquid, gas or solid phases. Students set up element, mass and energy balances for bioreactors, taking into account simultaneous bioconversion and transport processes. Scale-up effects on mixing and absorption kinetics, and limits imposed by flooding are also considered in the design. Examples of bioreactors discussed in the course are stirred-tank bioreactors, bubble columns and packed beds.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- design reactors with mass transfer between two ideally mixed fluid phases, for continuous, fed-batch, batch operation;
- design reactors with mass transfer between an ideally mixed fluid phase and a fluid phase moving in ideal plugflow, for continuous, fed-batch, batch operation;
- design reactors with mass transfer between two ideally mixed fluid phases and an ideal plugflow compartment with conversion, for continuous, fed-batch, batch operation;
- design reactors with diffusion into cell aggregates surrounded by an ideally mixed fluid phase which exchanges mass with a second ideally mixed fluid phase. The equation for the penetration depth of the rate-limiting reactant/product is given; its derivation is not included. Continuous, fed-batch, and batch operation are included;
- design reactors with diffusion into cell aggregates surrounded by one fluid phase moving in ideal plugflow. The equation for the penetration depth of the rate-limiting reactant/product is given; its derivation is not included. Only continuous, operation is included;
- design photo-bioreactors with mass transfer between two ideally mixed fluid phases and an ideal plugflow compartment with conversion, only for continuous reactors in steady state;
- handle various expressions for the intrinsic reaction kinetics for all reactors above;
- apply judicious simplifications to a reactor design model for all reactors above, to allow analytical solution;
- analyse scale-up effects and physical limits in the design;
- analyse differences between reactor types and modes of operation, and exploit these differences for various design goals.

In the context of this course, design is defined as:
- the construction of mathematical models based on balances for elements, reactants or products, combined with appropriate equations for conversion and transport kinetics;
- the use of these models to find allowed or required flow rates, concentrations, conversion rates or vessel volumes;
Students should be able to complete these design tasks independently and without access to materials used during the course or similar materials from other sources.

Activities:

- lectures and associated self-study of lecture notes and syllabus;
- supervised exercise classes.

Examination:

A closed-book exam consisting of open questions about elements from the list above.

Literature:

Study guide and reader are available on the internet before the start of the course; lecture slides, exercises and answers to exercises are made available during the course.