Biological and Chemical Simulations
For many applications, especially in the fields of medical device technology, biotechnology and process engineering, the interaction of biological or chemical processes with the dominant physical processes is interesting. The exact knowledge of the relevant relations and dependencies is decisive for the optimisation of the apparatus and the conduction of processes. Numerical simulations are the optimal tool for this task.
In combination with fluid flow simulations the models include for example chemical reactions with in some cases very complex processes like multiple reactions, thermally active and deactive reactions, different reaction rates or effects of catalysers. The basic requirement for including the reactions is the knowledge about the reaction kinetics and the material parameters. These are implemented in the CFD-Solver and completed by possibly temperature and concentration dependent material parameters.
For the simulation of biological systems it is necessary to take special features into account which are related to the special nature of living cells.
These are especially:
growth of cells | respiration |
metabolism | biotransformation |
These processes are described and implemented by model equations, by which effects like the viscosity increase due to an increase in cell mass, the exchange between gas bubbles and fluid or thermal balances are considered within the numerical simulation.
Due to its extensive activity in the field of biomedical and biotechnological applications ASD has know-how of many years in the simulation of these complex systems. These includes the possibility to investigate the risk of cell damage and the question of biocompatibility of an apparatus in biological systems. The manifold modules and valuation tools of ASD for biological valuation (for example for prediction of haemolysis and thrombus formation) are internationally acknowledged.