Power, mixing and flow dynamics of the novel Allegro™ stirred tank reactor
J.N. Delbridge, T.A. Barrett, Andrea Ducci, Martina Micheletti
Abstract
The development of new biopharmaceuticals relies on robust scale-up from small-scale screening studies to industrial bioreactors. Novel SUB designs can prove highly beneficial, although they lack the extensive characterisation of traditional STRs. Pall Corporation’s Allegro™ STR 50-2000 L bioreactor range has a unique design of square cross-section, with three wedge-shaped baffles. A scale-down 1 L prototype (abbreviated A-STR) was developed for characterisation studies and compared to a standard cylindrical STR (abbreviated S-STR). Agreement of power and mixing number data with that of the Allegro STR 200 L indicated successful scale-down. In down-pumping mode, mixing times in the A-STR were approximately 53% lower than in the S-STR. However, in up-pumping mode both configurations exhibited similar mixing times. This study utilises a scale-down prototype to provide quantitative data on the commercial Allegro STR bioreactor range, to define operating parameters for enhanced scalability, and for comparison with a standard bioreactor geometry.