JPH0391475A - Culture device for self-nourishing microorganisms - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a culturing device so as to be able to set an advantageous culturing condition by complicatedly arranging plural transparent tubular screws capable of being assembled optionally, joining their parallel longitudinal sides with bends and arranging light sources having a specific wave length among them.

CONSTITUTION: This culturing device for a self supporting nutrition microorganism comprises screws formed by arranging tubular screws 1, 2 and 3 complicatedly each other and respectively joining with bends 6, fixing the tubular screws 1, 2 and 3 to a frame stand 8 with mounting tools 7, arranging each of the tubes at an adjusted slope toward the joining site 10 at the lower part, optionally joining them with an openable flange coupling 9 and a demountable bend 11 as a screw for increasing or decreasing the volume as desired. In an empty room 12 formed by longitudinal sides 4 and 5, of which width is decided by the bends, a light source 13 is arranged. As the light source 13, a U-shaped low pressure fluorescent tube having a joinable part only at the upper end thereof and emitting the light having 400-700 nm wave length range is preferable.

COPYRIGHT: (C)1991,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an apparatus for cultivating autotrophic microorganisms, which can also be applied to the food and feed industry or pharmaceuticals. .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The cultivation of autotrophic microorganisms by exposure to sunlight in open installations or by using artificial light to carry out photosynthesis is known. Furthermore, for example, it is common practice to use both of these exposure methods during day and night operation. This ensures that the consumed light energy is utilized as much as possible.

From East German Patent No. 219.210, solar rays are directed onto a light-transparent piping system by means of a parabolic mirror,
It is known that suspensions from heliotrophic organisms are transmitted through this. The parabolic mirror has a cylindrical shape and is equipped with an adjustment device. However, with this device, the concentrated sunlight may overheat the suspension and damage living organisms.

Furthermore, according to GB 2.192.195, bioreactors are known which, in addition to being able to expose the medium to sunlight, also allow exposure to artificial light. The light beam is in this case directed over the optical conductor into the reaction vessel.

A number of transparent tubular light guides are provided, the light energy of which is all stored via the optical light guide introduced into the reactor. Due to the close arrangement of transparent tubes in the reaction vessel, only algae that do not precipitate exopolysaccharides can be cultured. This will precipitate in the transparent tube and as the light input of the reaction vessel gradually decreases significantly, economical cultivation of algae will become completely impossible. In addition, cleaning the reaction vessel becomes extremely difficult. However, clean and sterile conditions are prerequisites for successful culture.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,384 discloses an algae culturing device which is a large rectangular container with at least three vertical sides exposed.

According to this, CO2 and air are introduced into the container from the ground. Since there is no possibility of movement of the medium to other locations, ensuring this movement allows us to speak of a medium that is essentially stationary, although not very often. This results in highly non-uniform exposure of the culture medium. Therefore, it is the peripheral areas that are most intensely exposed;
The light intensity decreases significantly towards the center, and algae growth becomes very slow or completely stagnant.

From East German Patent No. 152.807, an apparatus for the cultivation of autotrophic microorganisms is known which can be operated either under sunlight or under artificial light. In this regard, a spirally shaped exposure device is provided horizontally, making it possible to irradiate both solar and artificial light. Since the exposure device is always horizontal, the angle of incidence of the sun's rays is constantly changing, and the intensity of the irradiation is also constantly changing. In particular, when the incident angle is small, the irradiation intensity becomes low. Therefore, covering a proportionate area of the exposure device requires a high illumination intensity when using artificial light, thus significantly increasing the cost of the cultivation process and the final product obtained thereby.

British Patent Application Publication No. 2.118.572 likewise contains an apparatus for cultivating autotrophic microorganisms with a tortuous tube as an exposure apparatus. In this case, the exposure device is exposed by sunlight or by means of a mercury vapor lamp. In this case as well, there is a moderate absorption of a given light energy, but this manufacturing method is on the one hand time consuming and on the other hand expensive.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The present invention is a culturing device for self-sufficient microorganisms that can expose as large an area as possible with the consumed light energy, and is constructed without taking up much space. It is based on the task of creating.

According to the invention, any combinable and connectable tube spirals of at least two interlaced transparent materials are provided, the parallel longitudinal sides of which are connected to each other on a bend. The above-mentioned problem is solved by having a light source between the parallel longitudinal sides and arranging a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped frame from the outer boundary of the whole.

In this case, the tubes are arranged with an adjusted slope of approximately 1% towards the lower connection site.

As a light source, a low-pressure fluorescent tube with a wavelength range of 400 to 750 nm is used. Many light sources consist of sealed components and are configured to be replaceable and/or partially disconnectable.

The expression "tube spirals arranged in an intricate manner"
A number of flat-shaped tube spirals are arranged so that they are intertwined with each other, so that their longitudinal sides run parallel to each other with very small distances and lie in the same plane and form the same plane both inside and outside. These tubes are connected with correspondingly distributed bends.

With the device according to the invention, a given light energy is sufficiently absorbed and the light source simultaneously exposes the plane formed by the two tubes. Due to the intertwined arrangement of many tube spirals, each tube extending from one another with very small distances, it is possible for the culture solution to pass through the light source for a very long time. For example, by connecting three spirals arranged in series on a frame, the passing distance can be multiplied many times. Furthermore, these helices are connected to each other in the manner described above by corresponding removable bends.

By arranging the tube spirals on a frame to form a light and portable enclosure, the device according to the invention can be made into replaceable components, and a cultivation device for autotrophic microorganisms of any size can be constructed using these components. It is also possible to construct them by connecting them in series so that they require relatively little space.

The inclination of the tube towards the lower connection site allows the device to be completely stopped after cleaning.

This avoids the formation of precipitates from the cleaning agent, for example the cleaning liquid, which could have a detrimental effect on subsequent operation.

Cleaning takes place with foam rubber balls, which are assigned according to the inner diameter of the tube and are forced into the tube spiral by the cleaning liquid.

A particular advantage of the device according to the invention is that it is possible to increase or decrease the volume without special measures, and that tube spirals arranged with one another can be connected in series or in communication with one another. .

According to this process, it is possible to carry out a preculture up to the grade of the starting volume in each tube spiral. All equipment for the preculture of autotrophic microorganisms is thus rendered unnecessary and can be disposed of.

The light sources are arranged in blocks relative to one another and are designed as sealed components, which can be replaced if necessary. In this way, the light source can be exchanged for other wavelengths of light to set favorable conditions for the respective cultivation. Therefore, the results obtained using conventionally known devices are far superior to those obtained in leather.

[Example] The invention will be further explained by examples.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tube helices 1.2 and 3 are interdigitated with each other. The tubes of both longitudinal sides 4 and 5 are therefore in close contact with each other. The tubes are thus connected to each other by bends 6 to form a helix.

The tube helices 1.2 and 3 are firmly fixed to the frame 9 with mounting fittings 7. The respective tubes of the tube spirals 1.2 and 3 are arranged on the frame 8 with a slight inclination of approximately 1% relative to the connection site 10.

Openable flange joint 9 and detachable bend 11
Three helices 1.2 and 3 can be connected in sequence by . With the exception of the removable bend 11, each tube helix 1, 2 and 3 forms a permeable system, which is independent of the other helices.

Accordingly, any combinable helical combinations are possible with each other.

In the hollow chamber (2) formed by the longitudinal sides 4 and 5, the width of which is determined by the bend 6, there is a light source configured as a fluorescent tube 13.

It is preferable that the fluorescent tube 13 is bent in a U-shape so that the connectable portion is only at the upper end.

Therefore, configuring the light source as a disposed component,
It can also be made easily removable and replaceable.

To operate the device, it is connected at the connection site 10 with a corresponding conduit for delivering the suspension and incubating the corresponding microorganisms. Air and CO2 are sent to this. Only one of the tube spirals 1, 2 or 3 initially feeds the suspension until the starting volume is reached. Once the starting volume has been reached with the device initially operated only with spiral 1, another spiral can be connected and finally the third spiral as well.

The suspension flowing forward in spiral 1 flows in the opposite direction in spiral 2, and once it reaches spiral 3, it flows in the same direction as spiral 1,
It exits the device again at the corresponding connection point 10 and is finally fed back into the tube spirals 1.2 and 3 via a pump, not shown. The necessary light energy is supplied by fluorescent tubes 13, which are arranged very closely in the tube.

Due to the arrangement of the hollow chamber 12, the light energy acts on two sides. Therefore, light energy is absorbed very well. The close arrangement of the fluorescent tubes 13 in the spirals 1, 2 and 3 maximizes the light efficiency. therefore,
The advantageous result is that the temperature generated by the fluorescent tube is negligible.

Furthermore, the suspension is constantly passed through a heat exchanger, so that the flowing suspension is not heated to an unacceptable degree. If the full light intensity is not required, some fluorescent tubes may be turned off, such as the second or third fluorescent tube. In this way, the device can always be operated more efficiently.

Cleaning of drawings

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a side view of the device of the invention, FIG. 12 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a view in direction A. Symbols used to indicate parts: 1. Pipe spiral; 2. Pipe spiral; 3. Pipe spiral; 4. Vertical side (left); 5. Vertical side (right); 6. Bend; , 8. Frame base, 9. Flange joint, 10. Connection end, 11. Detachable bend, 12. Hollow chamber, 13. Fluorescent tube.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An apparatus for cultivating autotrophic microorganisms, which comprises at least 2
Any combinable and combinable tube helix (1, 2, 3) consisting of several interlaced transparent materials
are provided, and their parallel longitudinal sides are bent (6, 11)
They are connected to each other at the top, and there is a light source (13) between the parallel vertical sides (4, 5), and a rectangular parallelepiped frame (8) is disposed throughout from the outer boundary. A device featuring: 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubes are arranged with an adjusted slope towards the lower connection site (10). 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a low-pressure fluorescent tube (13) with a wavelength range of 400 to 750 nm as a light source.