The hydrodynamics of an up-flow three phase packed bed bioreactor were inve
stigated experimentally using tracer techniques. The effects of the liquid
and gas velocities, and the particle size on the Peclet number (Pe) and on
the liquid hold-up (epsilon (L)) were determined. While the range of gas an
d liquid flow rate were chosen according to biotic conditions. It was found
that the Pe was not influenced from liquid flow rate, however decreased wi
th increasing gas flow rate and particle/reactor diameter ratio (d(p) / D-c
). Also it was found that liquid hold-up was not influenced from gas flow r
ate, however increased with increasing liquid flow rate and decreased with
increasing d(p) / D-c ratio. The correlation which connected the Bodenstein
number to gas phase particle Reynolds number and d(p) / D-c ratio and the
correlation which connected the liquid hold-up, liquid phase particle Reyno
lds number and d(p) / D-c ratio were found using Marquardt-Levenberg approa
ch.