Mixing and separation of microorganisms assisted by vibrations

N. Kozlov (1, 2) , Dominique Pareau (1) , Moncef Stambouli (1)

1 LGPM - Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux - EA 4038
2 Laboratory of Vibrational Hydromechanics, Perm State Humanitarian Pedagogical University

The possibility of application of average vibrational flows for enhancement of biotechnological process is studied experimentally. A vertical cylindrical container with an annular working layer is filled with an aqueous fine suspension and set at rotational vibration (librations) around its axis. Six activators are placed regularly on the inner side of the outer wall and have constant width along their whole length. Thus the geometry is axisymmetric and two-dimensional. At vibration, an average flow of a regular vortical structure, periodic along the azimuth, is excited. The intensity of vibration is characterized by the pulsation Reynolds number. Vibrational mixing provides efficient homogenization of a microalgae suspension, preventing sedimentation. The application of the effect for separation of microalgae is discussed.

Mots clés: rotational vibration; separation; mixing; microalgae; Stokes boundary layer; average flow.

Domaines: Chimie

N. Kozlov, Dominique Pareau, Moncef Stambouli. Mixing and separation of microorganisms assisted by vibrations. Convective Flows, 2013, 6, pp.274-283. ⟨hal-01270601⟩