Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
08:39
Simulating Temperature in a Soil Incubation Experiment
Published on: October 28, 2022
Parametric sensitivity analysis for temperature control in outdoor photobioreactors.
Darlan A Pereira1, Vinicius O Rodrigues, Sonia V Gómez
1Polytechnic Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. azevedodarlan@gmail.com
Bioresource Technology
|July 27, 2013
Summary
This study analyzed factors affecting broth temperature in flat plate photobioreactors. Reactor wall, shading, and plate distance significantly influence temperature for microalgae cultivation.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Photobioreactor Engineering
- Algal Cultivation
Background:
- Accurate modeling of broth temperature is crucial for optimizing microalgae cultivation in outdoor flat plate photobioreactors.
- Solar irradiation and reactor design significantly impact temperature fluctuations, affecting algal growth and productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze input parameters influencing a model for broth temperature in flat plate photobioreactors.
- To assess the impact of various parameters on model accuracy and identify key drivers of temperature variation.
- To provide insights for improving photobioreactor design and operating conditions for outdoor microalgae cultivation.
Main Methods:
- Employed a design of experiments (DOE) approach to systematically vary input parameters.
- Conducted a parametric sensitivity analysis to evaluate the influence of each parameter on broth temperature.
- Utilized a mathematical model to describe broth temperature dynamics throughout the day.
Main Results:
- The reactor wall and shading factor, directly related to solar irradiation, were identified as the most influential parameters on broth temperature.
- The distance between plates was also found to be a significant factor affecting temperature.
- Sensitivity analysis revealed the relative importance of different parameters in the temperature model.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing reactor wall properties and shading management is essential for controlling broth temperature in outdoor photobioreactors.
- Adjusting the distance between plates can help mitigate temperature extremes.
- The findings support the development of more efficient photobioreactor designs and operational strategies for enhanced microalgae cultivation.
More Related Videos
05:21Operation of Laboratory Photobioreactors with Online Growth Measurements and Customizable Light Regimes
Published on: October 28, 2021
10:08Construction and Setup of a Bench-scale Algal Photosynthetic Bioreactor with Temperature, Light, and pH Monitoring for Kinetic Growth Tests
Published on: June 14, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:28Bioreactor Controls-I
Maintaining optimal conditions within fermenters is essential for maximizing microbial productivity and ensuring process efficiency. This lesson focuses on key parameters—temperature, foam, pH, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and pressure—and their precise measurement and control strategies in fermentation systems.Temperature ControlTemperature regulation is critical due to the exothermic nature of many fermentation processes. In small laboratory fermenters, temperature is commonly monitored using...
01:23Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
Heat is a widely used method to control microbial growth by targeting and denaturing cellular proteins, thereby killing or inactivating microbes. This method's effectiveness is quantified using parameters such as the thermal death point (TDP), thermal death time (TDT), and decimal reduction time (D value). TDP represents the lowest temperature at which all microorganisms in a liquid suspension are eliminated within 10 minutes, whereas TDT is the time necessary to achieve sterilization at a...
01:29Bioreactor Design and Operational System
Bioreactors are engineered vessels designed to cultivate microorganisms under controlled conditions for industrial bioprocessing. They maintain sterility and allow precise regulation of pH, temperature, oxygen, and nutrient levels to optimize microbial growth and metabolite production. Bioreactors range from small laboratory units of 1 liter to industrial systems holding up to 500,000 liters, though only about 75% of their volume is actively used for fermentation. The remaining headspace...
01:27Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature
Microorganisms display remarkable adaptations, enabling them to thrive in diverse ecological niches across a wide range of temperatures. Temperature profoundly influences microbial growth by affecting enzymatic activity, membrane fluidity, and other cellular processes.Each microorganism operates within a specific temperature range defined by three cardinal points: minimum, optimum, and maximum. Below the minimum temperature, membranes lose fluidity, halting transport processes. Above the...
01:18Bioreactor Controls-II
In aerobic fermentations, oxygen is vital for microbial growth and metabolite production. Since air comprises only about 20% oxygen and the gas is poorly soluble in water—just 9 ppm at 20°C—supplying sufficient oxygen becomes a critical challenge, especially in high-demand processes like yeast growth or citric acid production. Even a fully saturated broth may offer only a few seconds of oxygen availability.To address this, sterile or scrubbed air is introduced into the fermentor via a sparger...
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.