Bioprocessing Pipelines: Rheology and Analysis

The intended audience for this book is students, technologists, and practicing engineers interested in processing biological fluids, primarily food and pharmaceutical fluids. These materials are subjected to a variety of mechanical forces and thermal treatments during processing. Our work is designed for self-study; and, after sufficient effort, we hope readers will be able to: 1) Explain the basic principles of fluid rheology needed to examine bioprocessing pipeline design problems; 2) Determine (using an appropriate instrument) the rheological properties of biological fluids needed to calculate pipeline design parameters; 3) Solve pumping problems (for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids) using the mechanical energy balance equation as the framework for the analysis; 4) Characterize the shear and thermal treatments given to biological materials in fluid processing systems.