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Comprehensive Computational Model for Coupled Fluid Flow, Mass Transfer, and Light Supply in Tubular Photobioreactors Equipped with Glass Sponges

Author

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  • Albert Mink

    (Institute for Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
    Lattice Boltzmann Research Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Kira Schediwy

    (Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Clemens Posten

    (Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Hermann Nirschl

    (Institute for Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Stephan Simonis

    (Lattice Boltzmann Research Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
    Institute for Applied and Numerical Mathematics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Mathias J. Krause

    (Institute for Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
    Lattice Boltzmann Research Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
    Institute for Applied and Numerical Mathematics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

Abstract

The design and optimization of photobioreactor(s) (PBR) benefit from the development of robust and quantitatively accurate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, which incorporate the complex interplay of fundamental phenomena. In the present work, we propose a comprehensive computational model for tubular photobioreactors equipped with glass sponges. The simulation model requires a minimum of at least three submodels for hydrodynamics, light supply, and biomass kinetics, respectively. First, by modeling the hydrodynamics, the light–dark cycles can be detected and the mixing characteristics of the flow (besides the mass transport) can be analyzed. Second, the radiative transport model is deployed to predict the local light intensities according to the wavelength of the light and scattering characteristics of the culture. The third submodel implements the biomass growth kinetic by coupling the local light intensities to hydrodynamic information of the CO 2 concentration, which allows to predict the algal growth. In combination, the novel mesoscopic simulation model is applied to a tubular PBR with transparent walls and an internal sponge structure. We showcase the coupled simulation results and validate specific submodel outcomes by comparing the experiments. The overall flow velocity, light distribution, and light intensities for individual algae trajectories are extracted and discussed. Conclusively, such insights into complex hydrodynamics and homogeneous illumination are very promising for CFD-based optimization of PBR.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert Mink & Kira Schediwy & Clemens Posten & Hermann Nirschl & Stephan Simonis & Mathias J. Krause, 2022. "Comprehensive Computational Model for Coupled Fluid Flow, Mass Transfer, and Light Supply in Tubular Photobioreactors Equipped with Glass Sponges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:20:p:7671-:d:945400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. McHardy, Christopher & Horneber, Tobias & Rauh, Cornelia, 2018. "Spectral simulation of light propagation in participating media by using a lattice Boltzmann method for photons," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 319(C), pages 59-70.
    2. Giovanni Luzi & Christopher McHardy, 2022. "Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-63, May.
    3. Marc Haussmann & Stephan Simonis & Hermann Nirschl & Mathias J. Krause, 2019. "Direct numerical simulation of decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence — numerical experiments on stability, consistency and accuracy of distinct lattice Boltzmann methods," International Journal of Modern Physics C (IJMPC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 30(09), pages 1-29, September.
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