Title:
Integration of Hydrodynamics into a Biokinetic Model for the Simulation of Microalgae Cultivation in a Photobioreactor
Author(s):
Belohlav, V., Jirout, T., Krátký, L.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Mixing of the culture medium is very important in microalgae cultivation systems since it is ensuring homogenous light radiation to the microalgae cells. A numerical model of hydrodynamic conditions was developed to investigate the mixing of the culture medium in a hybrid horizontal tubular photobioreactor. Microalgae cells movement during its flow in transparent tubes can be monitored. The motion of the cells was integrated into a biokinetic model, which can be used to simulate the influence of operating parameters on the distribution of light in the culture medium and on the production of microalgal biomass. Due to the increasing flow rate of culture medium, more intensive mixing takes place in the transparent area of hybrid horizontal tubular photobioreactor (HHT PBR) and microalgal cells are thus more often exposed to light radiation. The cultivation process was limited by a lack of nutrients, which does not allow to achieve higher concentrations of microalgae in the culture medium. Low concentration allows the incident light to easily penetrate to the culture medium. Therefore, more intensive mixing in HHT PBR did not show a significant increase in microalgae production.
Keywords:
hydrodynamics, microalgae, CFD, particle traking
Topic:
Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy
Subtopic:
Algae and Aquatic Biomass Production Systems
Event:
29th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BV.1.12
Pages:
140 - 145
ISBN:
978-88-89407-21-9
Paper DOI:
10.5071/29thEUBCE2021-1BV.1.12
Price:
FREE
