An inverse internal loop airlift-driven fibrous bed bioreactor (ALFBB) was designed by combining the advantages of an internal loop airlift bioreactor and packed bed bioreactor into one column. This bioreactor, with a high degree of design flexibility, is expected to handle genetically engineered cells as well as fragile cells, which are shear-sensitive. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the combined system have been investigated. Woven cotton was set in the downcomer of the I-IL-ALB to represent the fibrous bed packed bed and the outcome results were compared with those of the polyurethane foam (PUF) packed system and the unpacked I-IL-ALB system. The effects of the packing nature, packing height, packing top and bottom clearances, gaps between adjacent fiber surfaces, and superficial gas velocities were investigated. The hydrodynamic output variables included the gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity. Gas holdup for all packed systems continuously increased with increases in packing height, packing top clearance and superficial gas velocity. It was found highest in the downcomer of the cotton packed system than in the PUF counter part due to the roughness and hydrophilicity of the woven cotton fibrous material. Increased amounts of packing in the I-IL-ALB, whether in the form of cotton or PUF decreased the liquid circulation velocity in the bioreactor because of the increased frictional resistance and tortuosity. The reduction in liquid circulation velocity was significant for large packing with small gaps between fiber surfaces and increased bottom clearances of the cotton packed system. Empirical models based on packing properties are presented which accurately predict the gas holdup, whereas energy based model was proposed to predict liquid circulation velocities. The optimum hydrodynamic conditions were observed with cotton packing. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.