Ryan Rautenbach, M.Sc.


Eißendorfer Str. 38

Building O, Room 1.013

21073 Hamburg

Phone +49 40 42878 - 3614

Mail Ryan Rautenbach


Research

As part of the Multiphase Flows in Bioreactors group, the research of Ryan Rautenbach focuses on the characterisation and understanding of scale-up and scale-down in bioreactors, both within the group and through the CHOLife+ subproject of the DFG Priority Program SPP2170 "InterZell".

The CHOLife+ initiative aims to achieve full spatiotemporal resolution for bioreactor characterisation across scales—from laboratory-scale 3 L systems to industrially relevant 15,000 L reactors. Central to this work is the investigation of mixing heterogeneities, flow behaviour, and multiscale mixing phenomena using Lagrangian Sensor Particles (LSPs) and Lattice Boltzmann Large Eddy Simulations (LB-LES). This includes the detailed analysis of particle lifelines to determine their impact on CHO cell cultivation performance.

A key element of the research is improving the reproducibility and robustness of LES simulations, ensuring that computational predictions remain reliable across scales and operating conditions. This also extends to exploring multiphase flow operation, reflecting the complexities of true industrial fermentation environments where gas–liquid interactions significantly influence mixing, transport, and residence time distributions.

The work further involves mapping and fully characterising stirred-tank reactors (STRs) and their spatiotemporal gradients, including detailed distributions of flow structures and residence times of cells and molecules based on Lagrangian lifelines.

Experimental and numerical insights are leveraged to advance the design and operation of single multi-compartment bioreactors (SMCBs) used as scale-down models at the University of Stuttgart. These systems replicate essential hydrodynamic and environmental features of large-scale industrial reactors under controlled laboratory conditions.

By integrating sensor-based measurements (LSPs), LB-LES simulations, and complementary diagnostic methods, this research provides a multi-faceted and mechanistic understanding of bioreactor performance. This includes transport and mixing efficiency, compartmentalisation, and the dynamic trajectories experienced by cells in realistic single- and multiphase environments.

 

Awards
  • Recipient of the 3rd presentation prize at 8th BioProScale Symposium in Berlin, Germany, in 2024 for the presentation on Resolved Particle Lattice-Boltzmann Large Eddy Simulation in a 15,000 L Bioreactor to mimic Lagrangian Sensor Particles; announcement post and other recipients can be found here.
  • Recipient of the Poster Award at the FSP BioProTech Workshop (TUHH) for his work on the Reproducibility of GPU-Based Large Eddy Simulations for Mixing in Stirred Tank Reactors.
Presentations

Oral Presentations

  • Rautenbach, R.; Hofmann, S.; Buntkiel, L.; Barczyk, J.; Reinecke, S.; Hoffmann, M.; Takors, R.; Hampel, U.; Schlüter, M. "Resolved Particle Lattice-Boltzmann Large Eddy Simulation in a 15,000 L Bioreactor to Mimic Lagrangian Sensor Particles." 8th BioProScale Symposium, Berlin, Germany, 2024
  • Rautenbach, R.; Hofmann, S.; Buntkiel, L.; Barczyk, J.; Reinecke, S.; Hoffmann, M.; Takors, R.; Hampel, U.; Schlüter, M. "Simulation of Lagrangian Sensor Particles as Resolved Particles in an Industrial Bioreactor through Lattice-Boltzmann Large Eddy Simulations." 28th International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering (ISCRE 28), Turku, Finland, 2024
  • Rautenbach, R.; Haringa, C.; Brorens, P.; Maldonado de León, H.; Hoffmann, M.; Schlüter, M. "Reproducibility of Large Eddy Simulations for Mixing in Stirred Tank Reactors." 5th International Conference on Multiphase Flow and Porous Media (MMPE), Matsue, Japan, 8-11 September 2025

Poster Presentations

  • Rautenbach, R.; Barczyk, J.; Hoffmann, M.; Takors, R.; Schlüter, M. "Experimental and Numerical Fluid Dynamic Characterisation of an Industrial Sized Multiphase Bioreactor for Scale-Down Studies." DECHEMA Jahrestagung Mischen und Mehrphasenströmungen 2025, Hamburg, Germany
  • Rautenbach, R.; Maldonado de León, H.; Brorens, P.; Haringa, C.; Hoffmann, M.; Schlüter, M. "Reproducibility of Numerical Simulations - How Reliably Can We Predict Mixing Processes?" DECHEMA Jahrestagung Mischen und Mehrphasenströmungen 2025, Hamburg, Germany 
Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Einführung in CAD (WS 2023/24, WS 2024/25)

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics in Process Engineering (SS 2024)

  • Fluid Mechanics II (SS 2025)

  • Transport Processes (WS 2025/26)


 

Supervised Theses

  • Development of a Novel Method for the Visualisation of Local Oxygen Depletion in Gas–Liquid Reactors - Anna-Katharina Zörner, Bachelor’s Thesis (2025)
  • Lagrangian Trajectory Comparison between Flow-Tracers and Inertial Particles by Means of 4D-PTV - Mustafa Salli, Master’s Thesis (2024)

  • Measurement of Gas Hold-Up in a 30 L Stirred Tank Reactor - Gautama Halim, Bachelor’s Thesis (2024)

  • Documentation & Refinement of the 4D Particle Tracking Velocimetry Setup in the 3 L Stirred Tank Reactor  - Mustafa Salli, Project Work (2024)

Publications

[191167]
Title: Dynamics of Lagrangian Sensor Particles: The Effect of Non-Homogeneous Mass Distribution.
Written by: Rautenbach, R; Hofmann, S; Buntkiel, L; Schäfer, J; Reinecke, S F; Hoffmann, M; Hampel, U; Schlüter, M
in: <em>Processes</em>. August (2024).
Volume: <strong>12</strong>. Number: (8),
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DOI: 10.3390/pr12081617
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12081617
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Abstract: The growing demand for bio-pharmaceuticals necessitates improved methods for the characterization of stirred tank reactors (STRs) and their mixing heterogeneities. Traditional Eulerian measurement approaches fall short, culminating in the use of Lagrangian Sensor Particles (LSPs) to map large-scale STRs and track the lifelines of microorganisms such as Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. This study investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics of LSPs, specifically examining the effects that the size and position of the Center of Mass (CoM) have on their flow-following capabilities. Two Lagrangian Particle (LP) designs are evaluated, one with the CoM and a Geometric Center aligned, and another with a shifted CoM. The experimental study is conducted in a rectangular vessel filled with deionized water featuring a stationary circular flow. Off-center LPs exhibit higher velocities, an increased number of floor contacts, and moreover, a less homogeneous particle probability of presence within the vessel compared to LPs with CoM and Geometric Center aligned. Lattice Boltzmann Large Eddy Simulations provide complementary undisturbed fluid velocity data for the calculation of the Stokes number 𝑆𝑡 . Building upon these findings, differences in the Stokes number 𝑆𝑡 between the two LP variants of Δ𝑆𝑡 = 0.01 (25 mm LP) and Δ𝑆𝑡 = 0.13 (40 mm LP) are calculated, highlighting the difference in flow behavior. Furthermore, this study offers a more representative calculation of particle response time approach, as the traditional Stokes number definition does not account for non-homogeneous particles, resulting in an alternative Stokes number (Δ𝑆𝑡alt = 0.84 (25 mm LP) and Δ𝑆𝑡alt = 2.72 (40 mm LP)). This study contributes to the improved characterization of STRs through the use of Lagrangian Sensor Particles. Results highlight the implications the internal mass distribution has on LSP design, offering crucial considerations for researchers in the field.