IKA HABITAT photo (cell) Control Unit for Photobioreactors, LED Lighting Control and PID Control, 0010007553

Anyone cultivating photoautotrophic organisms such as microalgae or cyanobacteria in a bioreactor needs a light source that can be controlled just as precisely as temperature, pH or gas supply. The IKA HABITAT photo (cell) is the control unit that converts a HABITAT-research bioreactor into a photobioreactor via two LED light panels, featuring timer, continuous and programme modes for the lighting, and PID control for temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen.

The scope of delivery comprises only the Control Tower with its control panel and the two LED panels. The double-walled glass vessel required for the bioprocess itself, as well as the pH, temperature and other sensors, are not included with this control unit and are selected separately to suit the planned culture volume.

Light control for photoautotrophic cultures

Two LED light panels are included in the Scope of delivery and can be controlled via the 10.4-inch touchscreen tablet in timer, continuous or programme mode. Details regarding spectrum, wavelength and light intensity are available on request. The lighting control system itself supports both constant illumination and day-night cycles, as required by many photoautotrophic cultures to maintain a stable growth rhythm. If necessary, the panels can be reordered individually as spare parts without having to replace the entire control unit. For experimental series with different light programmes, a programme can be saved on the tablet and recalled later, rather than having to reset each run individually.

Control parameters for stirrer, temperature, pH and pO2

The stirrer operates within a speed range of 1 to 2200 rpm, with options including Off, manual operation, profile mode, cascade pO2 control and a chaotic mixing mode. Temperature control is PID-based, with an operating temperature range of 5 to 80 °C and a control accuracy of ±0.2 °C; heating is provided by a 250 W heating jacket. For pH, a measurement range of 0 to 14 is available with a control accuracy of ±0.05 pH; for pO2/DO, a measurement range of 0 to 200 %sat is available with a control accuracy of 0.3 %sat. Optionally, digital and optical sensors for pH, DO, biomass, redox, cell density and exhaust gas analysis can be connected; like the vessel, these are available as separately purchased accessories. The cascade control system links, for example, the stirrer speed to the measured pO2 value, so that mixing is automatically adjusted when the oxygen content falls.

Gas supply and dosing

Four mass flow controllers regulate nitrogen, oxygen, air and CO2 continuously or via a cascade control system, with a control accuracy of ±2 % fsr and a flow rate of 10 to 2000 cc/min per gas. Four Watson-Marlow peristaltic pumps are fitted for the dosing of acid, base, anti-foaming agent and culture medium; they deliver between 0.3 and 270 ml/min with an accuracy of ±0.3 ml/min and can be reversed in direction of rotation. The control unit connects via Ethernet, USB-B, RS232, Wi-Fi and OPC UA, and also features dedicated interfaces for the single-use reactor, thermostat and external pump.

Data integrity and process documentation

The tablet stores process data on an internal memory with a capacity of 32 GB; this is usually sufficient for cultivation runs lasting several weeks without the need to export data in the interim. If there is a power cut during a run, the control unit restarts automatically and the process continues without needing to be restarted manually. According to the manufacturer, those required to document in accordance with FDA CFR Part 11 can optionally meet these data integrity and traceability requirements using the system; details of a separate certificate are available on request. Ethernet, Wi-Fi and the open OPC UA protocol are available for connection to a higher-level process control system when several reactors are to be monitored simultaneously.

Typical applications

• Cultivation of microalgae and cyanobacteria with defined light control
• Batch, fed-batch and perfusion processes in cell cultivation
• Research into biofuels and CO2 sequestration with controlled gas supply
• Processes requiring documented PID control of temperature, pH and pO2

What else you need

To make the photobioreactor operational, the Control Tower requires a double-walled glass vessel, available in volumes ranging from 0.5 to 10 l. The standard sensor package for pH, liquid level and foam is included with this vessel package, not with the control unit itself. If you also wish to measure biomass, redox, exhaust gas or cell density, you can add the appropriate optical or digital sensors from the range of accessories. As the heating power and the LED panels generate heat during operation, a circulation cooler is usually also required in practice to actively regulate the vessel’s temperature. Through our procurement service, LT Laborhandel puts together the vessel, sensors and control unit to suit the planned culture, ensuring that the end result is a complete, fully functional system.

Technical details

Scope of delivery

• 1 x HABITAT photo cell Control Tower (control unit)
• 1 x tablet with operating and control software, 10.4-inch touchscreen
• 2 x LED light panels

A glass vessel, sensors, a stirring tool for the vessel and a recirculating chiller for temperature control are not included in the Scope of delivery and will be selected separately to suit the project.

Use and Maintenance

The control unit is rated to protection class IP 20, which protects it from large foreign objects but not from splashing water; a dry installation location is therefore essential. The permissible ambient temperature range is 5 to 40 °C; at higher temperatures, the permissible relative humidity decreases linearly from 80 per cent to 50 per cent at 40 °C. Following a power cut, the system restarts automatically; there is no need to manually restart any running processes. The data connection via Ethernet, Wi-Fi or OPC UA allows integration with a higher-level process control system when several reactors are to be monitored simultaneously. At the end of its service life, the control unit, as an electrical appliance, must be disposed of via the separate collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment, not in household waste.

Individual requirements and procurement service

The HABITAT photo (cell) range includes vessel packages in various volumes, replacement LED panels and sensors for biomass, redox, cell density and exhaust gas analysis. IQ/OQ documentation and qualification documents are also available. Through our procurement service, LT Laborhandel supports you in configuring your bespoke photobioreactor setup, from vessel size to the appropriate sensor configuration.

Frequently asked questions

Is the reactor vessel included in the Scope of delivery?
No. The HABITAT photo (cell) is the control unit with a tablet and two LED panels; the double-walled glass vessel, suitable for the culture volume, must be ordered separately.

Are the standard sensors for pH and liquid level included?
No, these are part of the vessel package, not the control unit itself.

What lighting control functions does the device have?
Timer, continuous and programme modes via the two LED panels supplied, controlled via the tablet.

Does the process continue automatically after a power cut?
Yes, the control unit restarts automatically without the process needing to be restarted manually.

Can the control unit be connected to a process control system?
Yes, via Ethernet, Wi-Fi or OPC UA; USB-B and RS232 are also available.