Computational Fluid Dynamics

Since the 1990s, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has rapidly emerged as important tool in chemical and biochemical engineering. CFD provides useful information on underlying transport phenomena such as heat, momentum or mass transfer. Thereby, CFD supplies important data on mixing characteristics, potential shear stress on the biocatalysts, or gradients of key parameters such as temperature, pH or nutrient concentration. Several studies associated crucial process parameters such as reaction kinetics with the fluid dynamical behavior. Consequently, the reactor design regarding stirrer geometry or baffle shape, heat exchange area or required power input will be accomplished with less effort. Initially, CFD was applied to study more simple single-phase systems. Recent developments have extended the application range to more realistic, nevertheless more complex, multiphase processes. Validation of CFD-predicted data by using experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) has proven valuable, primarily in cases where exact flow field characteristics are needed. A further advantage of the experimental validation is to estimate the reliability of the CFD models and their capability to extend to other cases.