Factors influencing the operation of a vertical bioreactor segmented with perforated plates.

Factors influencing the operation of a vertical bioreactor segmented with perforated plates supporting immobilized yeast cells were studied. It was found that the most important factors are the length-diameter (L/D) ratio of the reactor and the dilution rate. It was supposed that the optimal L/D ratio is about 1. The operation of the reactor was more favourable at a low liquid phase-solid phase ratio. The spatial distribution of the biocatalyst had only a slight, if any effect. The periodically changed direction of feed flow has no improving effect on the fermentation process.