Fundamentals of Bioreactor Design: Fed-Batch and Continuous Systems

Bioreactors are the heart of modern bioprocessing, driving the production of everything from life-saving therapeutics to sustainable biochemicals. Understanding how to design and operate these systems is essential for anyone entering the biotechnology and biochemical engineering fields. This text-only course guides you through the core principles of bioreactor design, helping you transition from basic biological kinetics to analyzing complex fed-batch and continuous operating models. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamental terminology, kinetics, and mass transfer principles of bioprocessing. - Analyze the operational differences between batch, fed-batch, and continuous bioreactors. - Calculate key design parameters, dilution rates, and steady-state values for continuous systems. - Develop feeding strategies for fed-batch systems to maximize biomass and product yield. - Explore modern concepts in process analytical technology (PAT) and single-use bioprocessing. - Apply mathematical models to predict cell growth and substrate consumption. The course begins with foundational definitions and microbial kinetics before moving into detailed written walkthroughs of mass balances, feeding profiles, and continuous system dynamics. You will progress through structured explanations and theoretical exercises designed to build practical engineering intuition. This course is created for beginners, students, and professionals transitioning into bioprocessing, with no advanced prior modeling experience required. Start reading today to master the core engineering principles behind modern biomanufacturing.