Abstract
A modified bubble column reactor to be used as Photobioreactor (PBR) is studied. PBRs are used to grow photosynthetic microalgae, which depend on light, nutrients and carbon dioxide for their growth. Carbon dioxide availability is dependents up on the amount of volumetric mass transfer taking place in the reactor. Bubble columns are known for high mass transfer rates, modifications to the existing bubble columns shows to increase the volumetric mass transfer in the system. The major modifications that are incorporated in the present PBR are rectangular flat walled columns and porous membrane for gas dispersion. Based on the previous work done in the area, hydrodynamics of bubble columns are influence by superficial gas velocity, gas holdup, bubble diameter, column geometry, use of antifoaming material and pressure. By using porous membrane, volumetric gas transfer was shown to improve over spared systems. Due to the interdependence of the factors influencing hydrodynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on eulerian equations are needed. Further CFD simulations are needed to understand liquid current flows and mixing.
Published Version
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