JP2558017B2 - Fermenter - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention utilizes a rotating disk type separator to mix a substrate and microorganisms and then to separate a product (filtrate) from a fermentation liquor obtained by fermentation to produce a product. The present invention relates to a fermentation device for obtaining.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid to be treated is caused to flow parallel to a surface of a filter medium, a shearing force is generated between the surface of the filter medium and the liquid to be filtered, and the liquid to be treated is solid-liquid separated. Disc type separators are known. This device is provided with a circular disk, which is composed of disks arranged between disk-shaped filter elements or fixed filter elements, rotatably in a cylindrical outer casing, and the disk-shaped filter is provided with a liquid to be treated. Is configured to separate the filtrate from the liquid to be treated through.

As an example of a fermentation apparatus using this separation apparatus, one having a structure shown in FIG. 6 is known. In the example shown in FIG. 6, 71 is a fermentation tank for fermenting after mixing the substrate and the microorganisms, 72 is a rotor for stirring the fermented liquid in the fermentation tank 71, 73 is a substrate 74 for a conduit 74 and a pump 75. Substrate tank to be supplied into the fermentation tank 71 by the above, and 76 is a rotary disc type separating device, the fermentation liquid is supplied from the fermentation tank 71 via the pipe 77 and the pump 78, and the fermentation liquid is supplied via the pipe 79. It circulates. In this fermentation device, fermentation is performed in the fermentation tank 71, and then the fermented liquid after fermentation is separated into a product and a fermented liquid containing microorganisms by a disc type separator.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned fermentation apparatus, the fermentation tank 71 and the separating apparatus 76 are separately required, so that there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large. Further, in the rotary disc type separator used for the above-mentioned fermentation device, a plurality of disc-shaped filter elements and discs and further the rotary shaft, because it has to be arranged in order in the outer casing with a depth, There was a problem that was difficult to assemble. Furthermore, in actual use, if some parts of the device such as the disk-shaped filter element are damaged, it is difficult to replace only the damaged parts. There was a problem in that it had to be reassembled after replacement, which was troublesome.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fermentation apparatus having a compact structure and easy maintenance such as assembly and replacement of parts.

[0OO6]

The fermentation apparatus of the present invention comprises a disk-shaped inorganic flat plate membrane having an active layer, which is liquid-tightly fixed to a membrane support plate, and a filtrate obtained by solid-liquid separation by the inorganic flat plate membrane is externally supplied. A liquid separation unit having a filtrate passage for taking out to the inside and having a fermentation liquid flow path leading from the front surface to the back surface, and a cylindrical intermediate frame, a top lid having a substrate inflow passage or a fermentation liquid discharge passage, and fermentation. By stacking liquid-tightly and alternately with a lower lid having a liquid discharge passage or a substrate inflow passage,
In addition to forming a plurality of fermentation chambers, a rotor having a rotating shaft fixed to the center of the rotor is provided in the fermentation chamber.

Further, the fermentation apparatus of the present invention is for fixing a disk-shaped inorganic flat plate membrane having an active layer to a membrane support plate in a liquid-tight manner, and for extracting the filtrate obtained by solid-liquid separation by the inorganic flat plate membrane to the outside. A liquid separation unit having a filtrate passage, a fermentation liquid flow passage leading from the front surface to the back surface, and a protrusion for forming a fermentation chamber above or below the inorganic flat plate membrane, a top cover having a substrate inflow passage or a fermentation liquid discharge passage, and fermentation. By forming a liquid-tight stack between a liquid discharge passage or a lower lid having a substrate inflow passage {, a plurality of fermentation chambers are formed, and
A rotor having a rotating shaft fixed to the center of the rotor is provided in the fermentation chamber.

[0008]

In the above structure, the liquid separation unit including the inorganic flat plate membrane forming the disk-shaped filter element and the rotor and the intermediate frame provided on the outer periphery thereof are stacked, or the liquid separation unit having the protrusion is stacked. As a result, a fermentation chamber is formed, and a device having the functions of both the fermentation device and the separation device can be configured. Therefore, compactification, assembly, and maintenance of a damaged portion can be easily performed. That is, it is possible to achieve compactness by integrating the fermentation device and the separation device, and at the time of assembly, the liquid separation unit and the rotor are stacked alternately, and then simply fixed from above and below by the upper lid and the lower lid. In addition, at the time of maintenance of the damaged portion, the maintenance can be performed by removing the upper lid and the lower lid and replacing only those portions. Also, by changing the height of the intermediate plate freely, it is possible to achieve the optimum ratio of the fermentation tank capacity and the membrane area.

The active layer of the inorganic flat plate membrane for separating the fermented liquid obtained by mixing the substrate and the microorganism and then fermenting it may be provided on only one side of the plate or on both sides. When it is provided on one side, it is preferable to support two inorganic flat plate membranes on both sides of the membrane support plate with a certain interval so that the active layer is in contact with the fermented liquid to form a liquid separation unit. It is preferable that the liquid separation unit is constituted by supporting the outer periphery of the inorganic flat plate membrane. Furthermore, by providing a substrate inflow path and a fermentation solution discharge path in each of the plurality of fermentation chambers, it is possible to prevent the concentration of the fermentation solution from changing from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the upstream side and the downstream side. It is preferable because the film load can be made uniform.

Further, it is preferable to prepare several kinds of cylindrical intermediate frames having different thicknesses because the capacity of the fermentation chamber can be changed depending on the type and properties of the substrate. further,
It is preferable to change the positions of the substrate inflow path and the fermentation liquor discharge path in combination with the size of the intermediate frame, because it is possible to cope with changes in the type and properties of the substrate. The rotor provided in the fermentation chamber is preferably provided close to the inorganic flat plate membrane,
When the height of the intermediate frame becomes high, it is preferable to provide two or more blades in each fermentation chamber, and a stirring blade for stirring the fermentation liquid in the fermentation chamber may be further provided.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the liquid separation unit and the intermediate frame are alternately stacked to form the fermentation chamber, but the intermediate frame is not limited to one.
Multiple sheets may be provided. As in the other embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the liquid separation unit may be provided with protrusions and stacked to form a fermentation chamber.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the constitution of an example of a fermentation apparatus of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a disc-shaped liquid separation unit 3-1 is provided between the disc-shaped upper lid 1 and the lower lid 2.
2 and 3-2 are arranged via cylindrical intermediate frames 4-1, 4-2, 4-3. That is, a disk-shaped rotor 7-1 fixed to the upper lid 1, the intermediate frame 4-1, and the rotary shaft 6 from the top, with the rotary shaft 6 having one end connected to the drive mechanism 5 outside the apparatus as the center, the liquid separation unit 3 -1, disk-shaped rotors 7-2 and 7-3 fixed to the intermediate frame 4-2 and the rotary shaft 6, a liquid separation unit 3-2, disk-shaped rotor fixed to the intermediate frame 4-3 and the rotary shaft 6 In the present invention, the rotor 7-4 and the lower lid 2 are stacked in this order, and bolts 9 are fixed to the plurality of taps 8 cut on the same circumference of the lower lid 2 from the upper lid 1 through the respective members. Of the fermentation device.

In this embodiment, the upper lid 1 and the liquid separation unit 3
-1, between the liquid separation units 3-1 and 3-2, between the liquid separation unit 3-2 and the lower lid 2, the fermentation chambers 18-1 and 18- corresponding to conventional fermentation tanks, respectively. 2,18-3
And fermentation liquid channels 14-1, 14-2 are formed between the fermentation chambers 18-1, 18-2, 18-3.
In addition to the hole through which the bolt 9 passes, the upper lid 1 is provided with a substrate inflow passage 11 through which a substrate flows in, and a bearing 15 for the rotating shaft 6 is provided at the center. Tap 8 on the lower lid 2.
In addition, after the substrate and the microorganisms are mixed, a fermented liquid discharge passage 12 that becomes a discharge passage of the fermented fermented liquid is provided, and a through hole 16 through which the rotating shaft 6 penetrates in a liquid-tight manner is provided in the central portion. There is.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing in detail the structure of an example of the liquid separation unit used in the fermentation apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, the inorganic flat plate film 21 is formed by providing a dense active layer 23 having a small pore size on one surface of a support layer 22 made of coarse ceramics having a large pore size. In the liquid separation unit shown in FIG. 2, the disk-shaped inorganic flat plate membranes 21-1 and 21-2 having the above-described structure are arranged at a fixed interval on the disk-shaped membrane support plate 24 so that the active layer 23 contacts the fermentation liquid. The fermented liquid is fixed to the inorganic flat plate membrane 21- at the inner end through which the rotary shaft 6 passes.
Holding plate 25 so that it does not enter the filtrate flow path side of 1, 21-2
Is provided. In addition, the upper and lower intermediate frames 4 when stacked
An O-ring 26 is provided on the circumference of the membrane supporting plate 24 in the vicinity of the outer peripheral end of the membrane supporting plate 24 in order to make a seal with -1, 4-2. Further, a filtrate channel 1 for taking out the solid-liquid separated filtrate to the outside.
3-1 (13-2) and a fermented liquid flow path 14-1 (14-2) for flowing the fermented liquid in the fermentation chamber to the next fermentation chamber are provided.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are views showing the construction of an example of a rotor used in the fermentation apparatus of the present invention. As the rotor of the present invention, a simple disk-shaped rotor as described above can be sufficiently used, but FIG.
Rotor 3 provided with a convex portion 31 in the radial direction as shown in FIG.
3 or a rotor 35 provided with a spiral convex portion 34 as shown in FIG. 3B is preferable because the stirring efficiency of the fermentation liquid is increased. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the rotor is such that the distance between the rotor and the inorganic flat plate film 21 becomes narrower as it approaches the central portion. Is preferred, which is preferable. The convex portion 31 or 34 is preferably provided so as to face the inorganic flat plate films 21-1 and 21-2.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, since each member is liquid-tightly fixed between the upper lid and the lower lid, a bolt is drilled inside each member and fixed through the inside of the hole. Two
It is also possible to provide a flange portion on each of the flange portions, make a plurality of holes in each of the flange portions, and fix the flange portions with bolts and nuts. In this case, instead of the flange portion, a plate material may be placed on the outer side of each of the upper lid 1 and the lower lid 2 to perform the same action as that of the flange portion and be fixed.

In the fermentation apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the substrate is introduced into the apparatus through the substrate inflow passage 11 and then fermented in each fermentation chamber 18-1, 18-2, 18-3 to obtain a product. After that, the product that has permeated the inorganic flat plate membrane 21 can be taken out of the apparatus from the fermentation liquor discharge passages 13-1 to 13-2, and the fermentation liquor containing unfiltered microorganisms that has become a concentrated liquid can be extracted from the fermentation liquor discharge passage 12. It is discharged to the outside of the device. Thereby, the fermentation separation operation of the fermented fermentation liquid can be completed after mixing the substrate and the microorganism.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the outline of the configuration of another example of the fermentation apparatus of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the same members as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that an inorganic flat plate film 21 is formed by providing a dense active layer 23 having a small pore size on both sides of a support layer 22 made of coarse ceramics having a large pore size. The outer periphery of the inorganic flat plate membrane 21 is fixed to the membrane supporting plate 24 to form a liquid separation unit. In addition, the end face of the inner periphery of the inorganic flat plate film 21 is subjected to a glaze treatment to provide a glaze layer for sealing. The inorganic flat plate membrane 21 is fixed to the membrane supporting plate 24 by dividing the membrane supporting plate 24 into two parts in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.
This can be achieved by grinding the position where 1 is inserted, inserting the inorganic flat plate film 21 into the processed position, and integrating the two-divided film support plate 24.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the upper lid 1 or the lower lid 2 is provided with the substrate inflow passage 11 or the fermented liquid inflow passage 12, but one in the fermentation chamber each, the substrate inflow passage 11 and the fermented liquid. The inflow path 12 may be provided. In such an apparatus, since the concentrated fermented liquid can be taken out from each of the fermentation chambers 18-1, 18-2, 18-3, the concentration of the fermented liquid should change from the upstream side to the downstream side. Can be prevented, and the membrane load on the upstream side and the membrane load on the downstream side can be made uniform. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid separation unit 3 is provided without using the intermediate frames 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3.
Protrusions 17 capable of forming a fermentation chamber in -1, 3-2
(17-1 to 17-4) are provided, and only the liquid separation units having the protrusions are stacked and the fermentation chambers 18-1, 18-2,
18-3 can also be configured.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but various modifications and changes can be made. For example,
In the above-mentioned examples, the inorganic flat plate membrane serving as a filter was fixed, and the rotor for stirring the fermentation liquor was fixed to the rotating shaft and rotated, but the unitization which is the characteristic part of the present invention is not changed. It is also possible to fix the inorganic flat plate membrane to the rotary shaft and take out the fermented product to the outside via the rotary shaft.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the fermentation apparatus of the present invention, the liquid separation unit including the inorganic flat plate membrane forming the disc-shaped filter element, the rotor, and the intermediate frame provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof. Since it is possible to configure a device having both the functions of a fermentation device and a separation device by stacking and stacking a liquid separation unit having a protrusion, it is possible to compact and easily assemble and maintain the damaged part easily. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a fermentation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an example of a liquid separation unit of the fermentation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a rotor of a fermentation apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a configuration of another example of a rotor of a fermentation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of another example of the fermentation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the outline of the configuration of still another example of the fermentation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a conventional fermentation apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Upper Lid 2 Lower Lid 3 Liquid Separation Unit 4 Intermediate Frame 5 Driving Device 6 Rotating Shaft 7 Rotor 8 Tap 9 Bolt 11 Substrate Inflow Path 12 Fermentation Liquid Outflow Path 13 Filtrate Flow Path 14 Fermentation Liquid Outflow 15 Bearing 16 Through Hole 17 (Liquid Separation Unit) Projection 18 Fermentation chamber 21 Inorganic flat plate membrane 22 Support layer 23 Active layer 24 Membrane support plate 25 Holding plate 26 O-ring

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A disc-shaped inorganic flat plate membrane (21) having an active layer (23) is liquid-tightly fixed to a membrane support plate (22), and a filtrate obtained by solid-liquid separation by the inorganic flat plate membrane (21) is collected. A liquid separation unit (3) having a filtrate passage (13) for taking out to the outside and having a fermentation liquid flow path (14) communicating from the front surface to the back surface, and a cylindrical intermediate frame (4) are provided as a substrate. Upper lid (1) having inflow passage (11) or fermentation liquor discharge passage (12) and fermentation liquor discharge passage (12) or substrate inflow passage (1)
A plurality of fermentation chambers (18) are formed by stacking liquid-tightly and alternately with the lower lid (2) having 1), and at the same time, the center of the rotor is placed in the fermentation chambers (18). A fermentation apparatus comprising a rotor (7) having a rotating shaft (6) fixed to the rotor. 2. A disk-shaped inorganic flat plate membrane (21) having an active layer (23) is liquid-tightly fixed to a membrane support plate (22), and a filtrate obtained by solid-liquid separation by the inorganic flat plate membrane (21) is collected. Filtrate passage (13) for taking out to the outside, fermented liquid flow passage (14) leading from the front surface to the back surface, and inorganic flat plate membrane (21)
A liquid separation unit (3) having a protrusion for forming a fermentation chamber at the upper part or the lower part of the substrate, an upper lid (1) having a substrate inflow path (11) or a fermentation solution discharge path (12), and a fermentation solution discharge path. (12) or the lower lid (2) having the substrate inflow path (11) is liquid-tightly laminated to form a plurality of fermentation chambers (18), and at the same time, the fermentation chambers (1)
8) A fermenter characterized in that a rotor (7) having a rotating shaft (6) fixed to the center of the mouth is provided in the inside of 8).