Understanding Temperature Control in Bioreactor Systems

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Bioreactors with poor heat transfer can be optimized through the use of a larger ΔT, which can facilitate the transfer of energy from high to low concentrations between the jacket and the culture medium. Jacket temperatures therefore need to be monitored and restricted to prevent the freezing or excess heating of cultured cells. This limitation may result in a longer experimental time-frame, even if the optimal heating or cooling equipment is in use. Thus, chillers such as the Thermo Scientific ThermoFlex re-circulating chiller with remote temperature sensors can be equipped to provide jacket temperature limits, ensuring that the cultured cells are not adversely affected by extreme alterations in temperature.

Heat gained from, or lost to, the external environment is more problematic to compensate for due to a large number of variables, including surface area, surface orientation, air temperature and air flow within the room. It is therefore advised that optimal insulation measures are employed. However, if this is not possible, only data from the manufacturer will provide a reliable indication of the additional heating/cooling capacity required. Without insulation, it is possible that an otherwise properly sized chiller may not be able to reach the desired temperature. In all cases, flow rate should be kept as high as possible, within the pressure limits of the vessel and the flow capabilities of the pump.

Conclusion

Bioreactors are critical for the development of new processes that will replace traditional chemical-based products to support and control biological entities with a higher degree of control. Since they are highly dependent on temperature, it is vital that temperature control equipment is employed. It is also vital that such equipment be selected based on the requirements of each application and the bioreactor vessel size.

In order for the accurate selection of such heating and cooling equipment, researchers must first calculate the heat load (specific internal energy) to provide an indication of the volume of heat to be dissipated and provide an optimal environment for culture growth.

* The author is employee at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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