Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor

This study systematically investigates the influence of liquid level height ([Formula: see text]) on hydrodynamic performance and mixing efficiency in loop bioreactors, a promising technology for energy-efficient single-cell protein production. Through controlled tracer experiments across varied liq...

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Main Authors: Fan Xu, Xiaoping Guan, Ning Yang, Maximilian Lackner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00219592.2025.2525541
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author Fan Xu
Xiaoping Guan
Ning Yang
Maximilian Lackner
author_facet Fan Xu
Xiaoping Guan
Ning Yang
Maximilian Lackner
author_sort Fan Xu
collection DOAJ
description This study systematically investigates the influence of liquid level height ([Formula: see text]) on hydrodynamic performance and mixing efficiency in loop bioreactors, a promising technology for energy-efficient single-cell protein production. Through controlled tracer experiments across varied liquid levels ([Formula: see text] to 3) and stirring speeds (1200–1800 rpm), we demonstrate that reduced liquid levels ([Formula: see text]) induce gas entrainment at high speeds ([Formula: see text] 1600 rpm), increasing flow resistance and reducing mean fluid velocity. Conversely, elevated liquid levels ([Formula: see text]) enhance diffusion-driven mixing, shortening mixing time by 2/3 at [Formula: see text] compared to [Formula: see text] A critical transition from convection-dominated to diffusion-dominated regimes is identified at [Formula: see text] with mixing efficiency becoming less sensitive to stirring speed at [Formula: see text] These findings provide feasible guidelines for optimizing loop scalability and advancing reactor optimization strategies for continuous bioprocessing.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0021-9592
1881-1299
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan
spelling doaj-art-0d01ecd853fe428ca87e973536b916012025-08-20T03:50:15ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Chemical Engineering of Japan0021-95921881-12992025-12-0158110.1080/00219592.2025.2525541Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop BioreactorFan Xu0Xiaoping Guan1Ning Yang2Maximilian Lackner3State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCirce Biotechnologie GmbH, Vienna, AustriaThis study systematically investigates the influence of liquid level height ([Formula: see text]) on hydrodynamic performance and mixing efficiency in loop bioreactors, a promising technology for energy-efficient single-cell protein production. Through controlled tracer experiments across varied liquid levels ([Formula: see text] to 3) and stirring speeds (1200–1800 rpm), we demonstrate that reduced liquid levels ([Formula: see text]) induce gas entrainment at high speeds ([Formula: see text] 1600 rpm), increasing flow resistance and reducing mean fluid velocity. Conversely, elevated liquid levels ([Formula: see text]) enhance diffusion-driven mixing, shortening mixing time by 2/3 at [Formula: see text] compared to [Formula: see text] A critical transition from convection-dominated to diffusion-dominated regimes is identified at [Formula: see text] with mixing efficiency becoming less sensitive to stirring speed at [Formula: see text] These findings provide feasible guidelines for optimizing loop scalability and advancing reactor optimization strategies for continuous bioprocessing.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00219592.2025.2525541Loop bioreactorLiquid level heightGas entrainmentHydrodynamic stabilityMixing efficiency
spellingShingle Fan Xu
Xiaoping Guan
Ning Yang
Maximilian Lackner
Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor
Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan
Loop bioreactor
Liquid level height
Gas entrainment
Hydrodynamic stability
Mixing efficiency
title Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor
title_full Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor
title_fullStr Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor
title_short Influence of Liquid Level Height on Flow Characteristics and Mixing Efficiency in a Loop Bioreactor
title_sort influence of liquid level height on flow characteristics and mixing efficiency in a loop bioreactor
topic Loop bioreactor
Liquid level height
Gas entrainment
Hydrodynamic stability
Mixing efficiency
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00219592.2025.2525541
work_keys_str_mv AT fanxu influenceofliquidlevelheightonflowcharacteristicsandmixingefficiencyinaloopbioreactor
AT xiaopingguan influenceofliquidlevelheightonflowcharacteristicsandmixingefficiencyinaloopbioreactor
AT ningyang influenceofliquidlevelheightonflowcharacteristicsandmixingefficiencyinaloopbioreactor
AT maximilianlackner influenceofliquidlevelheightonflowcharacteristicsandmixingefficiencyinaloopbioreactor