Scale-up of bioreactors through characterization of gas phase hydrodynamics and Euler-Euler numerical approach

Status

Open

Scientific disciplines

Physical Sciences and Physico-chemistry

Research direction

Process Design and Modeling

Affiliate site

Lyon

The PhD is part of a Franco-German co-funded project between IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) at Lyon and the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), focusing on the modelling of gas/liquid flows in industrial bioreactors. It aims to use new experimental techniques as well as advanced numerical approaches to improve CFD simulation tools and their application for the scale-up of bioreactors.
Objectives:
•    Characterize the hydrodynamics of the gas phase in bioreactors at different scales (20L15m3)
•    CFD simulation of gas/liquid flow using the Eulerian approach (two-fluid model)
•    Comparison between the Eulerian approach and the Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM) with Lagrangian bubble tracking, in collaboration with TUHH
•    Improvement of closure laws for the two-fluid model based on novel experiments and LBM simulations

Keywords: bioreactor, CFD, Eulerian modelling, Lattice-Boltzmann Method, Doppler velocimetry, optical probes

  • Academic supervisor    Dr. Frédéric AUGIER, IFPEN
  • Doctoral School    ED162 MEGA, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
  • IFPEN supervisor    Dr. Mohsen SHIEA, mohsen.shiea@ifpen.fr
  • PhD location    IFPEN, Lyon, France | 4-month stay at TUHH, Hamburg, Germany
  • Duration and start date    3 years, preferably starting in March 2026
  • Employer    IFPEN
  • Funding    ANR (PRCI)
  • Academic requirements    Master’s degree in fluid mechanics, chemical engineering, applied mathematics, or numerical simulation
  • Language requirements    English level B2 (CEFR)
  • Other requirements    Knowledge of multiphase flows; strong skills in CFD; Familiar with CFD tools, preferably Ansys Fluent; skills in experimentation (fluid analysis, flow characterization); interest in applied research; rigorous and autonomous; problem-solving skills; eager to learn; communication skills

To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to the IFPEN supervisor indicated here below.

Contact
Encadrant IFPEN :
Dr. Mohsen SHIEA