Bioreactors and Fermenters

Mass flow & pressure controllers and meters for bioreactor control systems

A chemist examining biological samples in a laboratory

Bioreactor performance relies heavily on accurate gassing and data visibility. Alicat^® mass flow and pressure meters and controllers provide real-time traceability and seamlessly integrate into research and industrial grade monitoring and control systems.

Product guides

Options for USP Class VI elastomers
Options for hazardous enclosures and environments

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Applications and use cases

CAR-T cell manufacturing

Alicat devices help maintain stable intracellular signaling in CAR-T cell research. Bioreactors in this field require precise, consistent gas control across all phases of cell expansion. In traditional fixed range controllers, overshoot or undershoot during these transitions can cause process complications. Alicat’s 10,000:1 turndown ensures stablility, repeatability, and prevents pH swing and mechanical stress.

Learn four ways Alicat devices assist in bioreactor pH control $

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AAV production

By maintaining uniform oxygenation and CO₂ levels, Alicat devices minimize batch to batch variability and support predictable, repeated cell growth and viral replication. All while meeting strict regulatory requirements.

See how Alicat improves vaccine delivery via reduced footprint$

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Headspace monitoring

Researchers using accurate bioreactor controllers for headspace gassing can identify non-optimal reactor designs. For closed-loop outgassing, Alicat provides the tools for facilities to recognize toxic CO₂ buildup and low metabolic yields that could compromise batches.

Learn more about bioreactor headspace management $

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Metrology

Alicat’s wide turndown and broad range of communication and data logging options support bioreactor workflows from benchtop R&D through full-scale industrial production. LabVIEW, Python, and FlowVision software enable reliable data logging, while analog, serial, and industrial communication protocols ensure easy integration and data transfer across systems.

See what mass flow controller is best for your bioprocessing application $

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Accurate scale up

Alicat devices can provide real time flow readings for O₂, N, CO₂, and air without the need for recalibration making it simple to verify bioreactor process gases with one device. Traceable measurements confirm DO control performance, validate sparge and overlay flows, and ensure gas mixing systems meet spec before running.

Learn to address scaling challenges of bioreactor sparging $

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Benefits of Alicat’s main-line technology

10,000:1 turndown ratio enables flexible placement and reduces the need for multiple flow lines
Repeatable and stable measurement remains accurate across varying temperatures and conditions
Highly configurable devices specified to custom application requirements and system setups with highly versatile communication options
Fast response times provide rapid control times, as low as 30 ms
Integrated display & reporting that shows real-time, configurable flow and pressure data
No recalibration during gas change with 98 – 130 pre-loaded gas calibrations that devices can switch between without losing accuracy