Optimisation of a stirred bioreactor through the use of a novel holographic correlation velocimetry flow measurement technique

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 11;8(6):e65714. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065714. Print 2013.

Abstract

We describe a method for measuring three dimensional (3D) velocity fields of a fluid at high speed, by combining a correlation-based approach with in-line holography. While this method utilizes tracer particles contained within the flow, our method does not require the holographic reconstruction of 3D images. The direct flow reconstruction approach developed here allows for measurements at seeding densities in excess of the allowable levels for techniques based on image or particle reconstruction, thus making it suited for biological flow measurement, such as the flow in bioreactor. We outline the theory behind our method, which we term Holographic Correlation Velocimetry (HCV), and subsequently apply it to both synthetic and laboratory data. Moreover, because the system is based on in-line holography, it is very efficient with regard to the use of light, as it does not rely on side scattering. This efficiency could be utilized to create a very high quality system at a modest cost. Alternatively, this efficiency makes the system appropriate for high-speed flows and low exposure times, which is essential for imaging dynamic systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bioreactors*
  • Holography*
  • Rheology*

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge funding from the Australian Research Council, via the Discovery Projects scheme under DP0987643 and DP0773650, and the Australia India Strategic Research Fund BF050038. MZI is a recipient of Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and Monash Graduate Scholarship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.