TY - JOUR
T1 - Mathematical modelling of flat plate biofilm photobioreactors with circular and rectangular configurations
AU - Das, Arit
AU - Basu, Sankhadeep
AU - Ghosh, Shiladitya
AU - Dairkee, Umme Kulsoom
AU - Chowdhury, Ranjana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 IAgrE
PY - 2018/10
Y1 - 2018/10
N2 - Flat plate photobioreactors (FPPBRs) using bacterial biofilm have gained much recent attention due to operational ease, improved light conversion efficiency and reduction of process cost, particularly in hydrogen production. In this study, two comprehensive mathematical models, one explaining the dynamics of a batch type FPPBR used for the development of biofilm and the other a deterministic model (both temporal and spatial) to predict the performance of a continuous FPPBR using Rhodopseudomonas sp. have been developed for both circular and rectangular configurations. The system equations have been solved using MATLAB 2013. From batch studies, the maximum specific growth rate and half saturation constant for the microorganism have been determined to be 0.07 h−1 and 1.946 g l−1 respectively. An “Instantaneous attachment and proliferation” mechanism has been proposed to explain the behaviour of biofilm right from the early stage of attachment to the reversal from attached to planktonic state. The flow patterns of substrate medium through the biofilm have been generated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. From the perspective of the hydrogen yield, the models predict that the FPPBR geometry plays a crucial role by demonstrating the superior performance of the circular reactor in comparison to the rectangular counterpart. It is expected that the mathematical models developed here will help in the design, scale-up and control of FPPBRs to be used particularly for hydrogen production using suitable microorganisms.
AB - Flat plate photobioreactors (FPPBRs) using bacterial biofilm have gained much recent attention due to operational ease, improved light conversion efficiency and reduction of process cost, particularly in hydrogen production. In this study, two comprehensive mathematical models, one explaining the dynamics of a batch type FPPBR used for the development of biofilm and the other a deterministic model (both temporal and spatial) to predict the performance of a continuous FPPBR using Rhodopseudomonas sp. have been developed for both circular and rectangular configurations. The system equations have been solved using MATLAB 2013. From batch studies, the maximum specific growth rate and half saturation constant for the microorganism have been determined to be 0.07 h−1 and 1.946 g l−1 respectively. An “Instantaneous attachment and proliferation” mechanism has been proposed to explain the behaviour of biofilm right from the early stage of attachment to the reversal from attached to planktonic state. The flow patterns of substrate medium through the biofilm have been generated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. From the perspective of the hydrogen yield, the models predict that the FPPBR geometry plays a crucial role by demonstrating the superior performance of the circular reactor in comparison to the rectangular counterpart. It is expected that the mathematical models developed here will help in the design, scale-up and control of FPPBRs to be used particularly for hydrogen production using suitable microorganisms.
KW - Biofilm development
KW - Circular and rectangular configuration
KW - Continuous operation
KW - Flat plate photobioreactor
KW - Hydrogen production using PNSB
KW - Mathematical modelling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049531103&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2018.06.004
DO - 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2018.06.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85049531103
SN - 1537-5110
VL - 174
SP - 66
EP - 79
JO - Biosystems Engineering
JF - Biosystems Engineering
ER -