CHE 514A: BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING

AIR STERILIZATION
Most of the fermentation process is aerobic in nature, which means the microorganisms need the presence of
oxygen for fermentation to proceed. It is relatively cheaper to provide air in the fermenter instead of pure oxygen. Since
the medium is already sterilized, the air entering the fermenter should also be sterilized.

For medium sterilization, heat is the most efficient way of killing the microorganisms. But for air, due to its lower
heat transfer efficiency, that method is both ineffective and impractical. The most effective technique is by filtration
using fibrous or membrane filters, such as cotton plug and glass fibers.

There are three mechanisms used by filtration in order to remove particles from the air. These are impaction,
interception and diffusion.

IMPACTION

This mechanism removes the largest diameter particles. Therefore the higher the particle diameter, the higher
the probability for it to be collected by impaction. This is also true for velocity, the faster the velocity, the higher the
efficiency.

When the particle travels together with the air, because of its mass, it would not have enough momentum to go
around the filter media or collector to avoid it. So it would collide with the collector and be removed from the air.

INTERCEPTION

This mechanism takes care of the lower diameter particles that are not collected by impaction.

For impaction, it considers the particles mass, but for interception it makes use of the particles size. When the
diameter of the particle is larger than the distance between two collectors, it will collide with the collectors and be
removed from the air. Just like in impaction, the particle diameter and velocity is also directly proportional with the
efficiency.

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DIFFUSION

Diffusion removes the smallest particles present in the air. Since these particles are very small they are almost
the same size as the molecules of the air. So the movement of the particles is due to Brownian motion. Brownian motion
is the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid resulting from their collision with the fast-moving atoms or
molecules in the gas or liquid.

For diffusion, the efficiency increases with a decrease in particle size and velocity.

COMBINED MECHANISMS

PROBLEM (Ex 8.3):

A filter bed of glass fibers Dc =15 the bed depth B =10 cm, and packing density α = 0.03) is being used to sterilize air
(20°C, 1 atm) with an undisturbed upstream velocity, vO , of 10 cm/s. The air stream contains 5,000 bacteria per cubic
meter (dp =1 μm and ρP =1 g/cm).
a. Estimate the single fiber collection efficiency by mertial impaction, by interception, and by diffusion.
b. Estimate the single fiber collection efficiency based on combined mechanisms by using Eq. (8.41) and Eq. (8. 42)
and compare the results.
c. Estimate the collection efficiency (ƞα) of the filter bed.
d. Show how the superficial velocity affects the various single fiber collection efficiencies.
GIVEN:
DC = 15 μm = 1.5x10-3 cm Air: T = 20°C
B = 10 cm P = 1 atm
α = 0.03 vO = 10 cm/s
nO = 5000 bacteria/m3
dP = 1 μm = 1x10-4 cm
ρP = 1 g/cm3
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REQUIRED:
a. Ƞimp, Ƞint, and Ƞdif
b. ȠC by Eq (8.42) & (8.43)
c. Ƞf
d. VO effect on ȠC

SOLUTION:
a. IMPACTION:
There are two formulas that can be used in order to solve for Ƞimp depending on the Re. so solving for Re,
𝐷𝑐 𝑣 𝜌
𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇
The formula of Re in your book from Eq (8.30) is in terms of vO (upstream velocity), kindly replace that with v
(velocity through the filter void space). The v can be solved by Eq (8.44),
𝑣𝑂 10 𝑐𝑚
𝑣= = = 10.3093
1 − 𝛼 1 − 0.03 𝑠
The Dc (collector diameter) is given. The μ of air can be read from the HB since the temperature of air is given
and the ρ can be solved by assuming ideal gas behaviour for air. Therefore,
𝑃 𝑀𝑊 (1 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(29 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙) 𝑔
𝜌= = = 1.2057 = 1.2057𝑥10−3 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3
𝑅𝑇 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝐿
(0.08205 ) (20 + 273.15)𝐾
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐾
From HB: (I will be making use of the value given in your book) μ = 1.8x10-4 g/cm.s

Solving now for Re,

𝑐𝑚 1.2057𝑥10−3 𝑔
(1.5𝑥10−3 𝑐𝑚) (10.3093 )( )
𝑠 𝑐𝑚3
𝑅𝑒 = 𝑔
1.8𝑥10−4
𝑐𝑚. 𝑠
𝑅𝑒 = 0.1036
Obviously the Re < 10, so we will make use of Eq (8.34). The Stokes number is needed to solve for Ƞimp. From Eq
(8.30),
𝐶𝑓𝜌𝑃 𝑑𝑃2 𝑣
𝑆𝑡 =
18𝜇𝐷𝑐
Replace the vO in your books as well. Most of the values needed for St is already available except for Cf.
Cf is the Cunningham correction factor which accounts for noncontinuum effects when calculating the drag on
small particles. Based on Eq (8.31), in order to solve for Cf we need the dp (particle diameter), which is given, and λ
(mean free path – average distance travelled by particles before collision). Using Eq (8.32),
𝜇 𝜋𝑀𝑊
𝜆=( )√
0.499𝜌 8𝑅𝑇
𝑔 𝑔
(1.8𝑥10−4 ) 𝜋 (29 )
𝜆=[ 𝑐𝑚. 𝑠 ]√ 𝑚𝑜𝑙
1.2057𝑥10 𝑔 −3 𝐽 7
1𝑥10 𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑠
(0.499) ( 3 ) (8) (8.314 𝑥 ) (20 + 273.15)𝐾
𝑐𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝐾 1𝐽
𝜆 = 6.4671𝑥10−6 𝑐𝑚
Convert Joules to cgs
equivalent ergs for unit
consistency.

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2𝜆 𝑑𝑝
𝐶𝑓 = 1 + [1.257 + 0.400 exp (−1.10 )]
𝑑𝑝 2𝜆
−6
2(6.4671𝑥10 𝑐𝑚) 1𝑥10−4 𝑐𝑚
𝐶𝑓 = 1 + [1.257 + 0.400 exp (−1.10 𝑥 )]
1𝑥10−4 𝑐𝑚 2(6.4671𝑥10−6 𝑐𝑚)
𝐶𝑓 = 1.1623

Solving now for St,

𝑔 −4 2 𝑐𝑚
(1.1623) (1 3 ) (1𝑥10 𝑐𝑚) (10.3093 𝑠 )
𝑆𝑡 = 𝑐𝑚
𝑔
18 (1.8𝑥10−4 ) (15𝑥10−4 𝑐𝑚)
𝑐𝑚. 𝑠
𝑆𝑡 = 0.0247

Substituting in Eq (8.34),
𝜂𝑖𝑚𝑝 = 0.075 𝑆𝑡 1.2 = 0.075(0.0247)1.2
𝜂𝑖𝑚𝑝 = 8.8369𝑥10−4

Note that although the impact efficiency solved seems quite small, the efficiency solved is only for one collector.

INTERCEPTION:
The efficiency for interception can be solved by using Eq (8.35). So,
𝑑𝑝 1𝑥10−4 𝑐𝑚
𝜅= = = 0.0667
𝐷𝑐 15𝑥10−4 𝑐𝑚
1 𝜅(2 + 𝜅)
𝜂𝑖𝑛𝑡 = [(1 + 𝜅) ln(1 + 𝜅) − ]
2.002 − 𝑙𝑛𝑅𝑒 2(1 + 𝜅)
Substituting κ in (8.34),

𝜂𝑖𝑛𝑡 = 9.9829𝑥10−4

DIFFUSION:
There are two formulas that can be used to solve for Ƞdif, Eq (8.36) and Eq (8.38). There were no stated
conditions on when to use each formula but the most commonly used one is Eq (8.38). The κ and Pe is needed for this
formula. For Pe, Constant k (Boltzmann’s constant) is present in your
calculators.
𝐽 1𝑥107 𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑠
𝐶𝑓𝑘𝑇 (1.1623) (1.3807𝑥10−23 ) ( ) (20 + 273.15)𝐾
𝐾 1𝐽
𝐷𝐵𝑟 = = 𝑔
3𝜋𝜇𝑑𝑝 3𝜋 (1.8𝑥10−4 ) (1𝑥10−4 𝑐𝑚)
𝑐𝑚. 𝑠
𝑐𝑚2
𝐷𝐵𝑟 = 2.7731𝑥10−7
𝑠
(15𝑥10 −4 𝑐𝑚) (10.3093 𝑐𝑚)
𝐷𝑐 𝑣 𝑠 = 55792.2935
𝑃𝑒 = =
𝐷𝐵𝑟 −7 𝑐𝑚2
2.7731𝑥10
𝑠
Substituting Pe in Eq (8.38),
2
𝜂𝑑𝑖𝑓 = 1.3𝑃𝑒 −3 + 0.7𝜅 2
2
𝜂𝑑𝑖𝑓 = 1.3(55792.2935)−3 + 0.7(0.0667)2

𝜂𝑑𝑖𝑓 = 4.0046𝑥10−3
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b. Using Eq (8.42),
𝜂𝐶 = 1 − (1 − 𝜂𝑖𝑚𝑝 )(1 − 𝜂𝑖𝑛𝑡 )(1 − 𝜂𝑑𝑖𝑓 )
𝜂𝐶 = 1 − (1 − 8.8369𝑥10−4 )(1 − 9.9829𝑥10−4 )(1 − 4.0046𝑥10−3 )

𝜂𝐶 = 5.8782𝑥10−3

Using Eq (8.43),
𝑔
𝜇 1.8𝑥10−4
𝑆𝑐 = = 𝑐𝑚. 𝑠
1.2057𝑥10−3 𝑔 2 = 538625.639
𝜌𝐷𝐵𝑟
( ) (2.7731𝑥10 −7 𝑐𝑚 )
𝑐𝑚3 𝑠
6
𝜂𝐶 = 2/3 0.5 + 3𝜅 2 𝑅𝑒 0.5
𝑆𝑐 𝑅𝑒
6
𝜂𝐶 = + 3(0.0667)2 (0.1036)0.5
(538625.639)2/3 (0.1036)0.5
𝜂𝐶 = 7.1118𝑥10−3

Again, although the value for efficiency is relatively small, the formula only considers one collector.

Comparing Eq (8.42) and Eq (8.43), there is quite a large difference between their predicted value for ƞC. As
stated by Lee, among the three mechanisms, diffusion had the largest value for efficiency which means that most of the
particles are collected via diffusion. The difference in value for Eq (8.42) and (8.43) is due to the fact that Eq (8.37) was
used in solving for the diffusion efficiency. And, as mentioned earlier, diffusion has a large effect on the value of the
collector efficiency.

c. The value of ƞC to be used for the filter bed efficiency is the value estimated by Eq (8.42) in order to be
consistent from the previous formulas used. The total filter bed efficiency would be
4𝐵 𝛼
𝜂𝑓 = 1 − exp [− ( )𝜂 ]
𝜋𝐷𝑐 1 − 𝛼 𝐶
4(10 𝑐𝑚) 0.03
𝜂𝑓 = 1 − exp [− −4 ( ) (5.8782𝑥10−3 )]
𝜋(15𝑥10 𝑐𝑚) 1 − 0.03

𝜂𝑓 = 0.7863

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d. To see how the velocity vO affects the single fiber collection efficiencies, various values of vO are estimated. The
efficiencies are then solved according to the vO values estimated. The values are shown in the table below.
As you can see from the table, in the second column, the impact efficiency increases together with an increase

in velocity. This is also true for interception efficiency as shown in the third column. While for diffusion
efficiency, it decreases with an increase in velocity. That is why upon solving for the total collector efficiency, as
seen in column 5 and 6, there is a decrease first in the value of efficiency, around a velocity of 5 cm/s, before it
increases.

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