Experimental study of the topological flow transformations in an aerial vortex bioreactor with a floating washer

Background Research into the flow structure in an aerial vortex bioreactor is relevant for developing the methods for growing cell cultures. Determining the optimal cultivation condition for a certain process is especially important in the case when such parameters of the medium as density and viscosity significantly change with the culture growth in the bioreactor. Methods and results The research of the flow dynamic was carried out in an 8.5 L universal aerial vortex bioreactor, with a washer freely floating on its surface and stabilizing the motion of the working fluid. The regularities of the vortex motion of the culture medium have been determined by Particle Image Velocimetry depending on its volume and the intensity of rotation of the activator, generating vortex motion in the air. Conclusion The observed vortex structure and its dynamics at increasing flow swirl intensity are established to coincide with the structure of a confined vortex flow in a cylindrical container with no washer for both single and two‐fluid configurations. This novel methodology of the flow optimization shows that an ascending swirling jet forms in the vicinity of the bioreactor axis, and a bubble‐like vortex breakdown forms in the axial region. Graphical and Lay Summary The novel vortex bioreactor provides the gentle, fine, and nonintrusive mixing of ingredients required for the efficient growth of tissue cultures. The resulting data are of great interest for developing the methods to grow cell cultures in a bioreactor and identify the kinematic parameters of opaque media of the cultured biomaterial. In fact, this is new methods or new approach for flow topology determination of opaque media during cultivation.