Analysis of convective flow effects on the performance of an intercalated-spiral alternate-dead-ended hollow fiber bioreactor

Abstract

The model analysis of a convective-flow dominant intercalated-spiral alternate-dead-ended hollow fiber bioreactor is presented. Previous work with a segregated radial flow model is compared to a more rigorous two-dimensional analysis of the bioreactor fluid mechanics, substrate consumption and transient cell growth. Analytical solutions for the radial and axial velocities and pressure distributions are derived by solving the coupled continuity and momentum equations in the extracapillary space and the arterial and venous fiber lumina and membranes. The validity of the radial one-dimensional model for small pressure moduli (≤ 1) are substantiated by the present work. Limitations of the previously developed one-dimensional model are revealed for larger pressure moduli when the axial velocity through the cell growth region dominates. Results are generated using the pressure modulus, the wall Peclet number and the Thiele modulus as parameters. This more rigorous analysis substantiates previous findings that the alternate-dead-ended design improves bioreactor performance via an enhanced radial convective flux into the cell growth region.