MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE RESISTANCE TIME DISTRIBUTION IN A FORCED-LIQUID VERTICAL LOOP TUBULAR BIOREACTOR FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM NATURAL GAS

The resistance time distribution was modelled in a forced-liquid vertical tubular loop reactor with a working volume of around 3.5 L. The axial dispersioncoefficient was determined as a best fitting parameter of the model at gas and liquid superficial velocities between 0.01 to 0.06 m/s and 0.1 to 0.6 m/s,respectively. Effect of liquid and gas flow rates on liquid dispersion coefficient was investigated. In this work, gas-liquid separator volume had no remarkableinfluence on mixing time. Furthermore resistance time increased with an increase in H/D (geometrical parameters).In this reactor, resistance time is approximatelyhalf of resistance time in without reactor. Axial dispersion coefficient was calculated based on two different hypotheses. In modelling, loop bioreactor wasdivided into some sections by employing a set of ideal blocks for tubular sections and headspace. Axial dispersion model was used for tubular sections ofthe loop reactor, while once an ideal continuous stirred used for separator section. Finally, Bodenstein number was achieved

کلیدواژه ها:

forced-liquid vertical loop tubular bioreactor ، mathematical modelling ، axial dispersion coefficient ، Bodenstein number