Characterization and optimization of a multi-phase aerated stirred fermenter using experimental and computational techniques

Multi-phase aerated stirred fermenters are well-accepted in the production of biopharmaceuticals including antibodies and vaccines. Nevertheless, their hydrodynamic and mixing characteristics as well as the influence of various process engineering variables on their performance are not fully understood. In the current study, extensive experimentation (ERT and endoscopy) and the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach will be employed to gain deep insights into the underlying phenomena happening in aerated stirred fermenter. The developed three-phase CFD model will be validated against the obtained experimental data set. The validated model will then be employed to identify the optimal operating conditions and design parameters to improve the performance of the aerated stirred fermenter.
The final aim of this project is to improve the understanding of aerated stirred fermenters which will increase system efficiency, speed vaccine development and reduce trial and error experimentation resulting in a considerable reduction in vaccine production cost.

Faculty Supervisor:

Farhad Ein-Mozzafari

Student:

Mohammadreza Ebrahimi

Partner:

Sanofi Pasteur

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: