LT6713B - Ultrasonic device for algae cell disruption - Google Patents

Abstract

This discovery is dedicated to renewable energy sources in particular for algae processing. The device is aimed to process algae in order to release internal chemicals from the cells, such as oils for bio fuel production, lipids, pigments, vitamins that are used in medicine and cosmetology, as a dual purpose device it can be used for water cleaning etc. The ultrasonic device for algae biomass processing consists of several parts which are: reservoir, half slice of hollow sphere – the actuator of ultrasonic vibrations, meanwhile one end of the hemisphere is assembled to the ultrasonic transducer and the other is immersed into algae biomass. The diameter of the sphere is adjusted to vibrate at first radial vibration tone. The hemisphere at a slice can be preceded by a hollow cylinder of the same diameter with the length that would fit the resonance of the system. Meanwhile the opposite end of the cylinder is connected to another hemisphere. The cylinder itself has inlet and outlet channels at the middle by its length or (and) such channels can be implemented in hemisphere actuator. Additional (one or few) resonating systems can be assembled to additional spherical concentrator and (or) to external surface of earlier mentioned cylinder external side. Inside the system, no matter will it be hemisphere or hemisphere with a cylinder, reflectors should be placed in a specific distance that should not exceed half-wave that is calculated for sound wave travel speed at algae biomass. The reflector should be made of hard material that does not damp acoustic waves.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to systems for the destruction of renewable algae biomass cells and the extraction of bioproducts stored in the cell by means of ultrasonic vibrations and can be applied to biofuel production, water treatment plants, various bioproducts such as lipids, proteins, pigments, vitamins used in medicine or cosmetics.

State of the art

At present, special attention is paid to algae, a promising source of renewable energy, food supplements and feeds, as well as important products for other industries. Technologies for growing algae and dividing their cells are relevant and promising. The present invention relates to the division of algal mass cells. There are several ways to decompose algae: mechanical, chemical, electromagnetic, ultrasonic. The invention relates to an ultrasonic decomposition method.

The known ultrasonic decomposition device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,280 B1 (2005) consists of a decomposable mass reservoir and an ultrasonic vibration concentrator immersed therein. In order to increase the separation efficiency, an additional half-wave rectangular oscillation system with longitudinal slits is used in the known ultrasonic technique. U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,251 (1970) and U.S. Pat. No. 0079300A1 (2009) propose the use of a disk-shaped resonator to increase the area of interaction with degradable biomass while increasing the efficiency of decomposition production. However, such factors increase energy losses.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,260,106 A1 (2005) proposes the use of a magnetostrictive vibration excitation system for the separation of a liquid mass, which is cumbersome and energy inefficient. U.S. Pat. No. 0,126,942 A1 (2010) attempts to apply several concentrators of different frequencies at once, which also leads to energy losses.

Another known ultrasonic decomposition device, described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,201 B2 (2004), consists of a decomposable mass reservoir and an ultrasonic vibration concentrator immersed therein. To reduce the energy loss associated with the suppression of resonant oscillations, the decomposed mass in which the concentrator is immersed is fed to the liquid mass at the end of the concentrator, where its vibration amplitudes are greatest. However, such factors reduce the efficiency of decomposition production.

Patents of a similar application may also be mentioned in US 0094183 (2013), which introduces decomposition mass control, US 4691724 (1987), which introduces a multi-stage stepped concentrator to increase vibration amplitudes, US 0184025 A1 (2014), which modernizes an already said semi-wavy rectangular oscillation system with longitudinal notches, etc.

The closest technical aspect to the present invention is the ultrasonic decomposition device described in U.S. Patent Application US 20080061000 A1 (2008), comprising a decomposable liquid mass reservoir and an ultrasonic vibration concentrator immersed therein. Attached to the concentrator is a half-wave rod with paddles attached to its side surface. The excited rod vibrates with longitudinal oscillations and forces the ladders to bend at the excited frequency, which interact with the decomposable mass filled in the reservoir. This increases the production capacity of the decomposition and reduces energy losses. However, the device has serious drawbacks: the excited rod will vibrate intensely only when it is introduced into the resonance, i. its length must be a multiple of the number of half-waves of the longitudinal oscillations propagating in the rod. However, the introduction of the rod into the resonance will mainly vibrate the paddles at the rods (ends) of the rod, which will not allow efficient use of the essence of the patent and will reduce the production capacity of the decomposition, increase the ultrasonic exposure time and reduce energy consumption.

The aim of the invention is to reduce energy consumption by reducing the sonication time of biomass and to increase the production capacity of biomass decomposition.

The object is achieved in an ultrasonic algal biomass cell disintegration system consisting of a decomposable algal biomass tank equipped with an ultrasonic vibration concentrator connected at one end to a resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration excitation system (Landjeven transducer) a concentrator to the outer part of which a vibration excitation system is attached perpendicular to the section of the sphere, and the diameter of the hollow sphere is selected so as to excite the first resonant shape of the radial oscillations therein; the ultrasonic exposure time of the biomass will be reduced by adding a free end of a hollow spherical concentrator to a hollow cylinder of the same diameter, the length of which is equal to a multiple of the half-wavelengths of longitudinal oscillations excited in said cylinder; the production capacity of the biomass will be increased by connecting the free end of the hollow cylinder to an additional truncated hollow spherical concentrator and circulating the algal mass in said hollow cylinder at its center by length or / and in an additional truncated hollow spherical concentrator; the production capacity of the unit will be further increased by connecting an additional part of the truncated hollow spherical concentrator or (and) the outer surface of the hollow cylinder, at its center by length, with additional (one or more) resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration excitation systems; the production capacity of the unit will be further enhanced by placing inside the hollow cylinder and / or the cut hollow sphere a distance not exceeding half the wavelength of the excited oscillating wavelengths propagating in the biomass, made of a flexible, non-vibrating material.

The following drawings are provided to illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a general view of the apparatus with a truncated hollow spherical concentrator; Fig. 2 - view with additional resonant cylinder; Fig. 3 - view without housing device as a closed resonant system; Fig.4 a), b), c) - without housing device with additional vibration excitation systems, Fig.5 a), b) - device with rigid insert.

Detailed description of the invention

The ultrasonic algal cell disintegration device consists of a round rod-shaped vibration excitation system (1) - a semi-wave longitudinal oscillating Landjeven transducer consisting of one or more piezoceramic elements (2) placed between the rod sections (3) (Fig.1) attached to the vibration concentrator (4), in the form of a cut truncated sphere, to the outer part (5) of which a vibration excitation system (1) is attached perpendicular to the spherical section, and the diameter (2R) of the hollow sphere center line is selected to excite the first resonant shape of radial oscillations. equation 2nR = c / f, where c is the velocity of the oscillations in the concentrator, f is the excitation frequency, and R is the radius of the center line of the sphere. The concentrator (4) is mounted in the nodal oscillation zone (6) at the device housing (7) and contacts the biomass (8) filled between it and the housing and fed by means of the inlet and outlet algae mass circulation holes (9, 10).

The free end of the concentrator (1) can be extended by a hollow cylinder (11) (Fig. 2), the length "I" of which is equal to a multiple of the half-wavelengths of longitudinal oscillations excited in said cylinder, by the equation I = nck / 2f, where n = 1, 2,3 ..., Ck - vibration propagation speed in the concentrator, f- excitation frequency.

In order to form a closed without housing system (Fig. 3), while increasing the production capacity, another (additional) cut hollow spherical concentrator (4a) can be connected to the free end of the hollow cylinder (11), and in said hollow cylinder (11) ), by making new holes for the circulation of the algal mass (9,10) at its center in length (knot zone) (6a) or (and) in an additional cut hollow spherical concentrator (4a).

To further increase the production capacity of the device, an additional part of the truncated hollow spherical concentrator (4a) or (and) the outer surface of the hollow cylinder (11) can be connected at its center by length to additional (one or more) resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic excitation systems 1a , 1b, 1c) Fig.4 a), b), c).

The production capacity of the device will be further increased by placing it inside the hollow cylinder (11) and / or the cut hollow sphere (4-4a) at a distance "d" (Fig.5 a), b)) not exceeding half the wavelength of the excited oscillations propagating. in biomass (8), an insert (12) made of a flexible, non-vibrating material, according to the expression d <Cb) / 2f, where, Cb) is the vibration propagation rate in biomass, f- excitation frequency.

Operation of an ultrasonic algal cell disruptor

When a resonant frequency voltage (not shown in the drawing) is applied to the piezoelectric electrodes, a longitudinal mechanical oscillation wave is excited in the concentrator (4), the maximum amplitudes of which are concentrated at the free end of the truncated hollow sphere interacting with the algal cell biomass , 10) in the reservoir (7), causing ultrasonic cavitation in it, as a result of which the destruction of the oil-saturated algae cells takes place, the separation of the oil (Fig. 1). The reduction in energy loss results in the diameter (2R) of the hemisphere of the hollow sphere being chosen to excite the first resonant form of radial oscillations. In this way, the wall of the hollow sphere (4) vibrates at the resonant frequency of radial oscillations and additionally interacts with the biomass of algal cells (8).

By connecting a hollow cylinder (11) of the same diameter to the end of the concentrator, we increase the area of interaction of the vibrating resonant system (4-11) - the concentrator with the biomass (8), and at the same time increase the production efficiency (Fig.2).

When the cylinder (11) has a part of the same diameter as the section of the ball (4), the first radial oscillation shape and the resonant longitudinal oscillation shape are excited, since the cylinder length "I" is selected by the number of half-waves of longitudinal oscillations excited in said cylinder. All this improves the energy performance of the device.

The area of interaction of the vibrating resonant system with the biomass is further increased by making it closed, terminating the free end of the cylinder (11) with a resonant hollow sphere (4a), as shown in Fig. 3, i.e. making the resonant system (411-4a), and at the same time we raise production productivity more. Inside the closed vibrating system, generating longitudinal and radial ultrasonic oscillations modes, intensive cavitation of biomass (8) takes place, resulting in intensive and rapid destruction of algal cells.

The cavitation process is significantly intensified by excitation of the composite concentrator (4-11-4a) with several additional resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration excitation systems 1a), 1b), 1c), as shown in Fig.4 a), b), c).

The decomposition time of biomass (8) is significantly reduced by placing it in an inner insert (12) made of a strong, non-vibration material in a closed vibrating system (4) or (4-11-4a). The small gap "d" between the concentrator and the liner ensures a more intensive concentration of biomass cavitation in a smaller volume.

Claims (6)

Definition of the invention 1. Ultrasonic algal cell disintegration (reactor) consisting of a decomposable algal biomass tank equipped with an ultrasonic vibration concentrator, one end of which is connected to a resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration excitation system that the concentrator is made in the form of a truncated hollow sphere, the outer part of which is attached perpendicular to the section of the sphere by a vibration excitation system, and the diameter of the hollow sphere is chosen so as to excite the first resonant radial vibration shape. 2. An ultrasonic algal cell disruptor (reactor) according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end of the hollow spherical concentrator is supplemented by a hollow cylinder of the same diameter, the length of which is equal to a multiple of the half-wavelengths of longitudinal oscillations excited in said cylinder. 3. Ultrasonic algal cell disintegration device (reactor) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the free end of the hollow cylinder is connected to an additional truncated hollow spherical concentrator, and in said hollow cylinder, at its center by length, and / or in an additional truncated algae mass circulation holes made in the hollow spherical concentrator. 4. Ultrasonic algal cell disintegration device (reactor) according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that an additional resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration excitation system (Langeeven transducer) is connected to the additional truncated hollow spherical concentrator. 5. Ultrasonic algal cell disintegration (reactor) according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that the outer surface of the hollow cylinder, at its center along its length, is connected to one or more additional resonant composite piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration excitation systems (Landzeven). converter). 6. An ultrasonic algal cell disintegration device (reactor) according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the interior of the hollow cylinder and / or the cut hollow sphere is located at a distance not exceeding half the wavelength of the excited oscillations propagating in the biomass. an insert made of a flexible, non-vibration material.