Development of a CFD Model of Bubble Column Bioreactors: Part Two - Comparison of Experimental Data and CFD Predictions

The application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a tool to simulate bubble column bioreactors is investigated. A three-dimensional model utilizing the Euler-Euler approach is evaluated. The role of various terms, i.e., lift, drag, bubble-induced turbulence, and volume fraction correction terms for drag, is determined. Good agreement between experimental data and simulation results was obtained by means of a single-bubble size model provided that bubble-induced turbulence and the reduction in drag due to the presence of other bubbles were taken into account.