Influence of operating variables on liquid circulation in a 10.5‐m³ jet loop bioreactor

A 10.5‐m³ concentric tube jet loop reactor was used to study the influence of the working liquid volume, mean superficial air velocity, operating pressure, downcomer aeration, liquid jet velocity, and two ratios of draft tube/reactor diameter (D_t/D) on liquid circulation time (T_c). The experiments were carried out in a water–air system with the use of the acid pulse method. Results showed that circulation time was independent of the working liquid volume over a certain minimum liquid level, whereas downcomer aeration and D_t/D ratio appeared as amenable parameters to achieve a high degree of control over liquid circulation and mixing efficiency, and to optimize the overall reactor performance. Increasing the operating pressure caused a reduction of the liquid circulation rate. However, ionger residence times of the air bubbles and the higher mass transfer driving force that result at higher pressures improve oxygen utilization. The relationship between T_c and air load was independent of the operating pressure, provided the correlation is given as a function of the mean superficial air velocity. Neither liquid circulation nor gas holdup were significantly affected by liquid jet velocity. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.