Simulation of Hydrodynamic Conditions of a Photobioreactor for Microalgae Cultivation

Abstract:

Under optimum environmental conditions, microalgae are able to accumulate significant amounts of lipids within diminutive span. They are therefore established as promising candidates for the production of biodiesel. In order to develop this, and also to cut down the cost parameter involving the production of biodiesel from algae, the growth rate of algae has to be enhanced. To maintain the proper condition for their growth, closed cultivation is the best option for which different types of reactor are used. Bubble column reactor, is one among them, where the mixing rate of algae with nutrients, growth rate increases. This paper reported the design modification of spiral column reactor which will have better mixing rate than conventional bubble column reactor in turn more mass transfer due to more turbulence which can be seen by analyzing the turbulence kinetic energy against radius for both the reactors, for that CFX solver is been used.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 592-594)
• Pages: 2427-2431
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.592-594.2427
• Online since: July 2014
• Authors: Sushovan Chatterjee*, Sanjoy Paul
• Keywords: Biodiesel, CFD Analysis, Microalgae, Spiral Bubble Column Reactor Design

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