LAMINAR AIR FLOWS IN FERMENTATION ACTIVITIES

It is very difficult to imagine running a fermentation plant without a good air supply. Air in various forms and quality are needed to carry out the various activities in the fermentation right from upstream to downstream activities.
Today, we will be discussing about the use of laminar air flows in fermentation activities. Laminar air flow is the term we use to describe the flow of air which occur in parallel layers or sheets just like a laminated sheet in cross section. The easiest way to visualize occurs air flow is to observe the laminar flow in liquid during primary mixing.
Conditions of generating laminar air flows occur under low energy power. High power usage will generate turbulence. Laminar air flow may further be enhanced by the type of nozzle used and by using laminar devices.
Laminar air flow are used more in the belief that such air flow do not create turbulence that might result in increased loading of microparticles in the air.
What is often not appreciated there is turbulence associated with laminar air flows by mechanically disturbing the immediate environment. Second turbulence is created as the laminar flows get mixed and merge. Points of energy cancellations will result in fast sedimentation particles
Laminar air flows do effectively transport microparticles at the zone separating the various layers of air.
The use of laminar flow is usually only effective in small space confinement such as in the inoculation chambers where the positive pressure exerted within the chamber tend to repel any intrusion of particles from the outside.
There is the trend nowadays to incorporate gentle laminar flow on the top surface of the fermentation floor to sweep away the microparticles.
It is regretful despite the understanding of the properties of laminar air flow its incorporation in the architectural design of aseptic areas in sensitive fermentation areas or even in the design of surgical operating theatres are still poorly understood

It is therefore not surprising in surgical operating theatres higher infections are often associated with the use of laminar airflow?


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