IKA HABITAT photo (cell), photobioreactor control unit, 0010007553

Photobiological kinetics and spectral emission

In the cultivation of photoautotrophic organisms (such as microalgae, cyanobacteria or plant suspension cultures), the application of the exact amount of photonic energy is the limiting metabolic factor. The IKA HABITAT photo (cell) bioreactor is metrologically designed for the high-precision manipulation of these light-driven kinetics. The system controls dedicated LED panels that surround the glass reactor. These emitters deliver a defined amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The automation software enables the precise programming of circadian rhythms (day-night cycles) as well as the stepless modulation of light intensity. This photonic control optimises electron transport in the cells’ photosystems and maximises the thermodynamic efficiency of biomass or secondary metabolite production without triggering a lethal photooxidative stress response (photoinhibition).

Rheology and the limitation of hydromechanical shear forces

Cell cultures, particularly eukaryotic or filamentous microalgae, do not possess a rigid cell wall structure like classical bacteria and are extremely sensitive to mechanical stress. The HABITAT photo (cell) is designed from a fluid mechanics perspective for absolute low-shear operation. Driven by the control unit, highly specialised mixing tools (such as marine impellers) convert kinetic rotational energy into a gentle, high-volume axial flow. This three-dimensional vortex generation prevents the gravitational sedimentation of the cells within the reactor and ensures homogeneous illumination of all particles (avoiding self-shading), whilst the hydrodynamic shear forces are kept strictly below the critical threshold for physical cell rupture (cell lysis).

Thermodynamic automation and sensor metrology

Maintaining biological integrity requires continuous monitoring of the physico-chemical environment. The HABITAT photo Tower acts as a cybernetic centre. Integrated mass flow controllers (MFCs) dispense gases (specifically CO₂ as an inorganic carbon source, as well as air/O₂) into the medium with the highest volumetric precision in order to adjust the mass transfer coefficient (kLa) to the metabolic requirements of the culture. The high-resolution sensor system measures parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen (DO). Using complex PID algorithms, the system immediately compensates for thermodynamic fluctuations or pH shifts via automated acid/base titration or adjustment of the gas flow rates, thereby guaranteeing seamless metrological reproducibility of the bioprocess under the strictest GLP/GMP requirements.

Technical details

• Product type: Bioprocess control unit / Photobioreactor tower (cell culture)
• Photobiological function: Control of external LED panels (PAR emission)
• Fluid mechanics: Optimised for low-shear axial mixing
• Gas supply system: Integrated mass flow controllers (MFC) for precise gas mixtures
• Sensor metrology: Connections for pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, level/foam
• Cybernetics: Automated PID control for temperature, pH and DO cascades
• Data integrity: Seamless process logging and audit trail capability
• System hermeticity: Ensures axial leak-tightness and containment for sterile cultures

Scope of supply

• 1 x IKA HABITAT photo (cell) control tower (Control Unit)

(Important note: The specific autoclavable glass vessels, sensors, LED panels, stirrer motors and the essential recirculating chillers for temperature control are highly modular and are not included with this basic control unit!)

Individual requirements & accessories

The HABITAT photo (cell) control unit is the metrological ‘brain’ of the system, but requires the physical infrastructure to establish a functioning bioprocess. The selection of the correct double-jacketed glass vessel (scalable from 0.5 to 10 litres) and the corresponding LED illumination cylinder must be precisely tailored to the thermodynamic and optical requirements of your culture. To compensate for thermal energy (exothermic reactions from the LEDs and metabolism), the integration of a high-precision cryostat is essential. For the complex, process-engineering configuration of your individual photobioreactor setup, please be sure to contact our specialist procurement service.