Stirred Tank Bioreactor

Abstract

Stirred tank reactor is a major bioreactor type widely employer in aerobic fermentation processes. Its main function component, viz, mixing device, comprises of various agitator types. It normally has facilities equipped for enhancing the mixing efficiency, i.e. baffles and draft tubes. In designing a stirred tank bioreactor one must consider its shape, size of tanks and impellers as well as all other equipments and facilities attached to the tank. An important parameter to be analyzed in the design is its power consumption which has interrelationship with the types of agitator, agitation speeds and rheological properties of liquids. A well-designed bioreactor shoud exert low mixing energy, where as providing high levels of mass and heat transfer coefficients.