THE INVERSE FLUIDIZATION AIRLIFT BIOREACTOR, PART I: HYDRODYNAMIC STUDIES

The inverse fiuidization airlift bioreactor offers a simple solution to the problem of handling shear sensitive cultures and/or systems requiring biofilm growth control. This unit combines in a single vessel the hydrodynamic behavior of concentric tube airlift aerators or contactors and liquid-solid fluidized beds. The effects of the diameter of the concentric tubes, liquid level, bed properties and gas flow rate on gas holdup, bed expansion and liquid circulation velocity were investigated in this study. The Zuber and Findlay relation (1965) gives satisfactory results for gas holdup. The inverse bed expansion can be predicted by the Richardson and Zaki correlation (1953). The liquid circulation velocity can be calculated using a mechanical energy balance