Hydrodynamic and mass transfer characterization of flat-panel airlift photobioreactors for the cultivation of a photosynthetic microbial consortium

The design and build of industrial photobioreactors are critical steps for the production of photoautotrophic microorganisms. Flat-panel airlift photobioreactors (PBRs) of 50 L and 150 L were built; hydrodynamics (gas hold-up (ε), mixing time (tm) and Reynolds number (Re)) and mass transfer properties were characterized in the two flat-panel airlift PBRs (50 and 150 L). The geometric ratio (illuminated area: operation volume (A/V) ratio) selected for building the 150 L PBR was adequate to carry out biomass production of a microbial consortium (MC). A high CO2 utilization efficiency in the PBRs was obtained. Finally, the experimental results of kLa were correlated mathematically to describe the influences of the considered factors (the overall power input and density) on the studied superficial gas velocity range. The predicted kLa values yielded acceptable results compared to the experimental results.