Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations

This study analyzes trajectories of three particle types in an industrial-scale bioreactor, equipped with a Rushton turbine and a pitched blade turbine, to characterize hydrodynamic compartments. The trajectories obtained from measurements with Lagrangian Sensor Particles (LSP,exp) are compared to t...

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Main Authors: Sebastian Hofmann, Ryan Rautenbach, Lukas Buntkiel, Isabel Sophie Brouwers, Lena Gaugler, Jonas Barczyk, Jürgen Fitschen, Sebastian Reinecke, Marko Hoffmann, Ralf Takors, Uwe Hampel, Michael Schlüter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Journal Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000419
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author Sebastian Hofmann
Ryan Rautenbach
Lukas Buntkiel
Isabel Sophie Brouwers
Lena Gaugler
Jonas Barczyk
Jürgen Fitschen
Sebastian Reinecke
Marko Hoffmann
Ralf Takors
Uwe Hampel
Michael Schlüter
author_facet Sebastian Hofmann
Ryan Rautenbach
Lukas Buntkiel
Isabel Sophie Brouwers
Lena Gaugler
Jonas Barczyk
Jürgen Fitschen
Sebastian Reinecke
Marko Hoffmann
Ralf Takors
Uwe Hampel
Michael Schlüter
author_sort Sebastian Hofmann
collection DOAJ
description This study analyzes trajectories of three particle types in an industrial-scale bioreactor, equipped with a Rushton turbine and a pitched blade turbine, to characterize hydrodynamic compartments. The trajectories obtained from measurements with Lagrangian Sensor Particles (LSP,exp) are compared to those generated by Lattice-Boltzmann large eddy simulations (LB LES). The latter method is used to reproduce analogous simulated LSPs (LSP,sim) as resolved particles. Additionally, for benchmarking purposes, massless tracer particles (tracer,sim) are incorporated to accurately represent fluid flow dynamics. Discrepancies in the axial probability of presence and velocity between LSP,exp and LSP,sim likely stem from differences in mass distribution, density, number of particles, and ratio of particle size to grid. A necessarily high LSP,sim volume fraction in LB LES leads to increased collisions and clustering, negatively impacting flow dynamics, and reducing turbulent kinetic energy by at least 3%. Circulation and residence time distributions for the three types of particles identify three hydrodynamic compartments within the bioreactor, validated by local mixing time distributions. The ratio of overall average circulation time to global mixing time is Θglob,95≈3.0⋅t¯circ for LSP,exp, which largely corresponds to literature results. A theoretical LSP size of dp,th≈1mm is estimated to be flow following on micro-scale in the bulk phase, if a Stokes number of St=0.1 is assumed. However, Stokes number estimations confirm that LSP,exp are capable to follow flow patterns on the meso-scale and macro-scale with St≈0.2 and St≈0.002, respectively. Hence, hydrodynamic structures at length scales greater than or equal to the size of the impeller can be investigated by current state-of-the-art LSPs, which proves their technological readiness for industrial bioreactors.
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spelling doaj-art-cd507f4f12b742ca909827f13e9dbfc52025-08-20T02:29:43ZengElsevierChemical Engineering Journal Advances2666-82112025-05-012210074410.1016/j.ceja.2025.100744Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulationsSebastian Hofmann0Ryan Rautenbach1Lukas Buntkiel2Isabel Sophie Brouwers3Lena Gaugler4Jonas Barczyk5Jürgen Fitschen6Sebastian Reinecke7Marko Hoffmann8Ralf Takors9Uwe Hampel10Michael Schlüter11Institute of Multiphase Flows, Hamburg University of Technology, Eißendorfer Str. 38, 21073 Hamburg, Germany; Corresponding author.Institute of Multiphase Flows, Hamburg University of Technology, Eißendorfer Str. 38, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, GermanyInstitute of Multiphase Flows, Hamburg University of Technology, Eißendorfer Str. 38, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyLate Stage USP Development, Bioprocess Development Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, GermanyInstitute of Multiphase Flows, Hamburg University of Technology, Eißendorfer Str. 38, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Chair of Imaging Techniques in Energy and Process Engineering, Dresden University of Technology, 01062 Dresden, GermanyInstitute of Multiphase Flows, Hamburg University of Technology, Eißendorfer Str. 38, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyThis study analyzes trajectories of three particle types in an industrial-scale bioreactor, equipped with a Rushton turbine and a pitched blade turbine, to characterize hydrodynamic compartments. The trajectories obtained from measurements with Lagrangian Sensor Particles (LSP,exp) are compared to those generated by Lattice-Boltzmann large eddy simulations (LB LES). The latter method is used to reproduce analogous simulated LSPs (LSP,sim) as resolved particles. Additionally, for benchmarking purposes, massless tracer particles (tracer,sim) are incorporated to accurately represent fluid flow dynamics. Discrepancies in the axial probability of presence and velocity between LSP,exp and LSP,sim likely stem from differences in mass distribution, density, number of particles, and ratio of particle size to grid. A necessarily high LSP,sim volume fraction in LB LES leads to increased collisions and clustering, negatively impacting flow dynamics, and reducing turbulent kinetic energy by at least 3%. Circulation and residence time distributions for the three types of particles identify three hydrodynamic compartments within the bioreactor, validated by local mixing time distributions. The ratio of overall average circulation time to global mixing time is Θglob,95≈3.0⋅t¯circ for LSP,exp, which largely corresponds to literature results. A theoretical LSP size of dp,th≈1mm is estimated to be flow following on micro-scale in the bulk phase, if a Stokes number of St=0.1 is assumed. However, Stokes number estimations confirm that LSP,exp are capable to follow flow patterns on the meso-scale and macro-scale with St≈0.2 and St≈0.002, respectively. Hence, hydrodynamic structures at length scales greater than or equal to the size of the impeller can be investigated by current state-of-the-art LSPs, which proves their technological readiness for industrial bioreactors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000419Lagrangian Sensor ParticlesResolved particle Lattice-Boltzmann large eddy simulationIndustrial-scale stirred tank reactorCompartmentsGlobal and local mixing time
spellingShingle Sebastian Hofmann
Ryan Rautenbach
Lukas Buntkiel
Isabel Sophie Brouwers
Lena Gaugler
Jonas Barczyk
Jürgen Fitschen
Sebastian Reinecke
Marko Hoffmann
Ralf Takors
Uwe Hampel
Michael Schlüter
Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations
Chemical Engineering Journal Advances
Lagrangian Sensor Particles
Resolved particle Lattice-Boltzmann large eddy simulation
Industrial-scale stirred tank reactor
Compartments
Global and local mixing time
title Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations
title_full Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations
title_fullStr Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations
title_full_unstemmed Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations
title_short Lagrangian Sensor Particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors: Experimental analysis and Lattice-Boltzmann simulations
title_sort lagrangian sensor particles for detecting hydrodynamic heterogeneities in industrial bioreactors experimental analysis and lattice boltzmann simulations
topic Lagrangian Sensor Particles
Resolved particle Lattice-Boltzmann large eddy simulation
Industrial-scale stirred tank reactor
Compartments
Global and local mixing time
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000419
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