Modeling hydrodynamics and biochemical reactions in a Flat Plate Bioreactor

Abstract

Modeling the complex interactions between biochemical reactions and hydrodynamics is the key to optimize biofiltration systems performance. In this work, biological kinetics expressions were implemented into Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model as transport equations, including convective and diffusive terms. Previously, activity within the biofilm of a flat plate bioreactor (FPB) was experimentally investigated measuring dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles by means of microsensors and under common operating conditions. Moreover, a mathematical model to describe mass transport and metabolic activity in the FPB was developed and their parameters were fitted from experimental results. Then, a CFD model, combining hydrodynamics and biochemical reactions, was developed and solved to simulate local transient flow and dynamic behaviors of biofilm growth and substrate (glucose) biodregradation in the FPB. The CFD simulation results were evaluated by studying hydrodynamics characterization in the FPB and comparing simulated DO profiles with experimental DO profiles within the biofilm section. The hydraulic behaviour corresponds to a laminar flow and simulated DO profiles illustrate a satisfactory agreement with experimental data for different biofilm densities. Glucose and oxygen biodegradation and biomass growth along the bioreactor were described using the CFD model.