Numerical simulation and optimization of gas-liquid two-phase flow in a large-scale bubble column bioreactor

Authors

WANG Long, Angel Yeast Co ., Ltd., Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;The Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Yeast Function , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China
SUN Yafang, Angel Yeast Co ., Ltd., Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;The Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Yeast Function , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , ChinaFollow
QIN Xianwu, Angel Yeast Co ., Ltd., Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;The Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Yeast Function , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China
ZHANG Yan, Angel Yeast Co ., Ltd., Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China ;The Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Yeast Function , Yichang , Hubei 443000 , China
LI Chao, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai 200234 , China

Corresponding Author(s)

孙雅芳（1980—），女，安琪酵母股份有限公司高级工程师，博士。E-mail：sunyf@angelyeast.com

Abstract

[Objective] To conduct flow field simulation analysis on an 80-ton bubble column bioreactor for equipment improvement and fermentation efficiency enhancement. [Methods] Computational fluid dynamics is resorted to numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase flow in a bubble column bioreactor. Euler-Euler method and k-ε model are used to simulate the turbulence of gas-liquid two-phase flow. The population balance model (PBM ) is coupled to predict bubble size. The flow pattern, liquid velocity, energy dissipation rate, gas holdup, and bubble size distribution inside the reactor are simulated. Based on the permeation model, the calculation is performed on the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa) inside the reactor, and an analysis is conducted on the influence of different reflux angles and diameters of the reflux pipe on the reactor ’s oxygen supply capacity. [Results] The reflux pipe significantly impacts the reactor ’s flow field, and positively impacts the liquid velocity, energy dissipation rate, and bubble size. The volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient of the reactor reaches 1 093 h-1. There is an interactive effect between the reflux angle and the diameter of the reflux pipe, with the optimal combination as a diameter of 150 mm and an angle of 45°. Under these conditions, the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient reaches 1 428 h-1. [Conclusion] The reflux pipe makes the bubble column reactor comparable to the stirred reactor of the same scale in terms of oxygen supply capacity, playing a crucial role.

Publication Date

11-19-2025

First Page

59

Last Page

66

DOI

10.13652/j.spjx.1003.5788.2024.80100

Recommended Citation

Long, WANG; Yafang, SUN; Xianwu, QIN; Yan, ZHANG; and Chao, LI (2025) "Numerical simulation and optimization of gas-liquid two-phase flow in a large-scale bubble column bioreactor," Food and Machinery: Vol. 41: Iss. 10, Article 9.
DOI: 10.13652/j.spjx.1003.5788.2024.80100
Available at: https://www.ifoodmm.cn/journal/vol41/iss10/9

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