Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor

The mixing of the culture medium in a photobioreactor (PBR) is very important to enhance the cultivation of microalgae since it ensures that microalgae cells can access nutrients and light radiation. In this study, a numerical model of hydrodynamic conditions was developed to investigate the mixing...

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Main Authors: Vojtech Belohlav, Tomas Jirout, Lukas Kratky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2022-07-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Transactions
Online Access:https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/12498
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author Vojtech Belohlav
Tomas Jirout
Lukas Kratky
author_facet Vojtech Belohlav
Tomas Jirout
Lukas Kratky
author_sort Vojtech Belohlav
collection DOAJ
description The mixing of the culture medium in a photobioreactor (PBR) is very important to enhance the cultivation of microalgae since it ensures that microalgae cells can access nutrients and light radiation. In this study, a numerical model of hydrodynamic conditions was developed to investigate the mixing of the culture medium in a hybrid tubular photobioreactor under various operating conditions. The movements of microalgae cells in transparent tubes was simulated. The motion of the cells was integrated into a mechanistic model, to simulate the influence of operating parameters on the distribution of light in the culture medium and, consequently, on the production of microalgae. According to the developed multi-physical model, when the flow rate of the culture medium increases, more intensive mixing takes place in the transparent area of hybrid tubular PBR, and microalgal cells are more often exposed to light radiation. Intensification of mixing showed an increase in microalgal biomass production. However, the increase in production was very low because the concentration of microalgal biomass in the culture medium was generally low and therefore the penetration of incident light into the culture medium was not limited.
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spelling doaj.art-cd203dffbad449c3addd8dc4ca8099512022-12-22T01:24:52ZengAIDIC Servizi S.r.l.Chemical Engineering Transactions2283-92162022-07-019310.3303/CET2293001Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular PhotobioreactorVojtech BelohlavTomas JiroutLukas KratkyThe mixing of the culture medium in a photobioreactor (PBR) is very important to enhance the cultivation of microalgae since it ensures that microalgae cells can access nutrients and light radiation. In this study, a numerical model of hydrodynamic conditions was developed to investigate the mixing of the culture medium in a hybrid tubular photobioreactor under various operating conditions. The movements of microalgae cells in transparent tubes was simulated. The motion of the cells was integrated into a mechanistic model, to simulate the influence of operating parameters on the distribution of light in the culture medium and, consequently, on the production of microalgae. According to the developed multi-physical model, when the flow rate of the culture medium increases, more intensive mixing takes place in the transparent area of hybrid tubular PBR, and microalgal cells are more often exposed to light radiation. Intensification of mixing showed an increase in microalgal biomass production. However, the increase in production was very low because the concentration of microalgal biomass in the culture medium was generally low and therefore the penetration of incident light into the culture medium was not limited.https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/12498
spellingShingle Vojtech Belohlav
Tomas Jirout
Lukas Kratky
Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor
Chemical Engineering Transactions
title Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor
title_full Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor
title_fullStr Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor
title_full_unstemmed Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor
title_short Microalgae Cells Tracking in Hybrid Tubular Photobioreactor
title_sort microalgae cells tracking in hybrid tubular photobioreactor
url https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/12498
work_keys_str_mv AT vojtechbelohlav microalgaecellstrackinginhybridtubularphotobioreactor
AT tomasjirout microalgaecellstrackinginhybridtubularphotobioreactor
AT lukaskratky microalgaecellstrackinginhybridtubularphotobioreactor