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BKF2741
BIOREACTOR
DETERMINATION OF KLa
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of agitation speed and air flow rate on volumetric oxygen transfer rate
(KLa) in stirred tank bioreactor.
EQUIPMENT / APPARATUS / MATERIAL
1. 2 L Fermenter
3. Ruler
4. Caliper
5. 2 L Distilled water
6. N2 and O2 supply
7. 2 g NaCl
INTRODUCTION
The main parameter of interest for design of an aerobic bioreactor are K L and a. It is extremely difficult to
determine KL and a separately and thus, most researcher concentrate on the determination of KLa, termed
as volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient. KLa can be determined in various systems of the gas-liquid
dispersion. KLa is influence not only by the operating variable of the stirred tank bioreactor but also the
geometry and design of impeller. Understanding of the system and its effect on oxygen transfer and
mixing may help to efficiently use the bioreactor for fermentation process.
Estimation of the KLa of a fermentation system by using dynamic gassing-out techniques depends
upon monitoring the increase in dissolved oxygen concentration of a solution during aeration and
agitation. The oxygen concentration of the solution is lowered by gassing the liquid out with nitrogen gas.
Aeration is then initiated at a constant air flow rate and the increase in dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) is
monitored using dissolved oxygen probe. The profile of DOT during deaeration and aeration is shown in
Figure 1. Increased in DOT during aeration can be expressed by Eq. 1
dC L
dt
K L a(C E C L ) Qd
(1)
where CL is dissolved oxygen conc., CE is saturated dissolve oxygen conc. and Q d is spesific
respiration rate.
Mass balance for the system:
Air Off
CL (%
saturation)
100
BKF2741
Air On
0
0
10
Time (min)
Figure 1 DOT profile
If microorganism is not present in the solution, Qd = 0, Eq 1 becomes
dC L
dt K L a(C E C L )
(2)
dC L
Plot of
dC L
dt K L a.C L K L a.C E
dt
dC L
dt
values may be a problem. There are two methods in determination of K La. First, the difference method
and second, integral method.
(A) Difference method
Obtained CL value at constant time interval aeration.
2
Assume that
Therefore,
dC L
C L
dt
C L
t0
CL0
BKF2741
t1
CL1
t2
CL2
t3
CL3
t4
CL4
t5
CL5
dt
C L1 C L 0 , C L 2 C L1
t 2 t1
t1 t 0
C L ( average )
C L 0 C L1 , (C L1 C L 2 )
2
2
C L
Plot of
C L
t K L a (C E C L (average) )
t
versus C L (average ) will produce a straight line where the slope is equal to -KLa.
dC L
dt K L a(C E C L )
dC L
(C E C L ) K L a dt
Plot of ln(CE-CL) versus t will produce a straight line where the slope is equal to -KLa
BKF2741
PROCEDURE
A) Geometry of Stirred Tank Reactor
2 L stirred tank bioreactor was filled with 2 L distilled water. Measure the geometrical ratios of the
bioreactor using a caliper and ruler. Fill in the table below:
Dimension of components
Operating volume
Liquid height (L)
Tank or vessel diameter (D)
Ratio 0f L/D
Impeller diameter (P)
Baffle width (B)
Liter/mm
Dimension of components
Ratio of P/D
Ratio of B/D
Impeller height (I)
Ratio of I/D
Number of impeller
Liter/mm
BKF2741
RESULTS
Variable
Time (min)
10
12
14
1.0 L/min
1.5 L/min
2.0 L/min
CL
200 rpm
(%
400 rpm
saturation)
600 rpm
DISCUSSION
1. Plot a graph to show the effect of air flow rate and agitation speed on KLa.
2. Discuss the possible cause of error in determination of KLa by using this dynamic gassing out
technique.
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