Bioreactor headspace measurement by inverted siphon

Abstract

This paper descibes a new way to measure the headspace, and hence broth volume, of a closed reactor producing gas, or into which some gas can be introduced. The measuring element is an inverted siphon through which reactor gas flows in discrete volumes or boli. Experiments have shown that the gas boli volumes are directly proportional to the headspace volume of the reactor and theoretical considerations confirm this observation.