Design and performance of a new microcalorimetric system for aerobic cultivation of microorganisms

A twin‐type heat‐conduction calorimeter for an aerobic fermentation process was designed and constructed fermentor both in batch and continuous runs. The time constant of the calorimeter was 3.3 min. The volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient ( k L a ) of the vessel was measured by a sulfite oxidation method in a continuous flow system under various rotation speeds and gas flow rates. Sufficient thermal stability of the calorimeter was obtained both in batch and continuous runs within the operation time period.