RU85479U1 - APPARATUS FOR FERMENTATION PROCESSES - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Apparatus for carrying out fermentation processes, including a horizontally located fermentation tank with a heat exchange jacket, plugs and fittings, respectively, for supplying aerating gas, venting the gas medium, introducing the seed culture and nutrient solutions, draining the finished product, pump, for introducing into the seed tank culture and nutrient solutions, a buffer tank connected by a pipe to the fitting of the outlet of the gas medium and pipelines with built-in controlled valves with a fermentation tank and a lock chamber communicated by pipelines with controlled valves, respectively, with a finished product drain fitting and a sewer drain fitting, matrix, for conducting solid-phase fermentation and a control device, characterized in that the fermentation tank is made in the form of a “tee” with flanges, with two opposite ends the containers are closed with plugs, and at the third end of the container there is a device for mixing the working fluid, containing a chamber for compressed air, fixed through an elastic membrane on a flange and equipped with a compressed air supply fitting, a pusher located in the center of the sealed hole and rigidly connected to the membrane and the platform located inside the tank, with gaps to its walls, and having a perforation in the form of "Rashig rings". ! 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix is mounted on a perforated platform. ! 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device is equipped with a pulse generator of compressed air.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of suspension cultivation of cells and microorganisms using liquid and solid substrates in order to obtain biologically active substances and can be used in food, medical and scientific research, as well as in solving environmental problems.

The well-known "Apparatus for suspension cultivation of tissue cells and microorganisms" (RU 2 270 245 C1, Bull. N5), including a fermentation tank with a lid and nozzles, respectively, for supplying aerating gas and venting a gaseous medium, and a device for aeration and mixing of the culture fluid, the latter contains an aeration gas circuit, consisting of a pipeline and located above its outlet in the container screen, horizontally for the formation of a gas cushion under it and installed with a gap rum to the walls of the tank, as well as a means of creating oscillations of the gas cushion for mixing the culture fluid and a gas flow regulator in communication with the specified pipe, while the means of creating oscillations of the gas cushion contains a pulsator with a movable diaphragm to create a reciprocating movement of the gas flow into the gas cushion under screen.

The efficiency of the device for aeration and mixing of the working fluid in a known apparatus depends on the size of the surface area of the phase separation for gas, the gas is the fluid formed under the screen, and the efficiency of mixing the fluid, on the volume and frequency of its movements in the apparatus, is realized in practice when loading the fermentation apparatus not more than 50% of the volume, since otherwise the working fluid, when displaced from under the screen, can be expelled outside the apparatus, which can lead to violation of the conditions th ongoing process and economic losses. In addition, the limited loading of the fermentation apparatus significantly reduces its productivity. To maintain the efficiency of gas exchange in conditions of increasing the working volume of the apparatus, it is necessary to proportionally increase the area of contact between the liquid and gas under the screen, which will lead to a decrease in the frequency of the reverse fluid flow between the screen and the walls of the apparatus and, as a result, to a decrease in the quality of the target products. For the prototype selected "Apparatus for the cultivation of cells and microorganisms" (RU 69518 U1, Bull. N36).

The apparatus contains two fermentation vessels with caps and nozzles for supplying aerating gas and venting the gas medium. The containers are equipped with matrices freely placed in the cavity of each container, while the containers are interconnected by a lower drain pipe and connected by pipelines to controlled valves with a pipe for supplying aerating gases.

In addition, the apparatus contains:

- a pump for introducing into the first fermentation tank of nutrient solutions and seed culture;

- a buffer tank connected by a pipeline to a pipe for venting the gas medium and pipelines with built-in controlled valves with fermentation tanks and a lock chamber, while the lock chamber is connected by pipelines with built-in controlled valves with pipes for draining and collecting the resulting products;

- the housing of each tank is made in the form of a pipe segment with a heat exchange jacket and has a horizontal working position;

- the matrix is made of mesh corrugated canvas, rolled into a spiral;

- corrugated matrix fabric may have a film coating of nutrients or sorbents;

- the matrix contains insoluble components of the nutrient medium located in the inter-turn space of the spiral.

The known apparatus can be used for both liquid phase and solid phase fermentation processes.

The high efficiency of mass transfer processes in the known apparatus is achieved when small volumes of the working fluid are used in fermentation processes, however, this contradicts the conditions of the high performance of the apparatus, an important factor of which is the volume of the working fluid.

With an increase in the working volume of the apparatus increase:

- the flow of aerating gases necessary to displace the working fluid from one tank to another, which increases the load on the bacterial gas filters and reduces the aseptic reliability of the apparatus;

- the flow time of the working fluid from one fermentation tank to another, which significantly reduces the frequency of fluid exchange between containers, ensuring the efficiency of mass transfer processes.

Mixing of the working fluid is carried out by means of a reversible flow of fluid through a pipeline connecting the fermentation tanks. Such conditions allow efficient mixing of the working fluid in small volumes. With an increase in the working volume, the efficiency of mixing the liquid is significantly reduced due to an increase in the time of flow of the liquid from the tank to the tank and the horizontal working position of the fermentation tanks, which creates "pockets" of slightly mobile liquid remote from the bypass pipeline.

The loading of the fermentation apparatus with the working fluid is not more than 50% of the volume, since otherwise the working fluid, when displaced from one tank to another, will be forced out of the apparatus, which can lead to a violation of the process conditions and economic losses. In addition, the limited loading of the fermentation apparatus significantly reduces productivity.

The apparatus is operated using two fermentation tanks, which significantly increases the installation dimensions, metal consumption and cost of the apparatus.

The technical result consists in the intensification of fermentation processes, by increasing the efficiency of mass transfer during cultivation in conditions of high productivity of the apparatus.

This result is achieved by the fact that in the apparatus for carrying out fermentation processes, including a horizontally located fermentation tank with a heat exchange jacket, plugs and fittings, respectively, for supplying aeration gas, venting the gas medium, introducing the seed culture and nutrient solutions, draining the finished product, pump, for input into the capacity of the sowing culture and nutrient solutions, the buffer capacity connected by a pipeline to the outlet fitting of the gas medium and pipelines with integrated valves with a fermentation tank and a lock chamber, connected by pipelines with controlled valves, respectively, with a finished product discharge fitting and a sewer drain fitting, a matrix, for solid-phase fermentation and a control device, the fermentation tank is made in the form of a “tee” with flanges, and two opposite ends of the container are closed with plugs, and at the third end of the container there is a device for mixing the working fluid, containing a chamber for compressed air, fixed through an elastic membrane to the flange and provided with a nipple supply of compressed air, a pusher, a centrally located aperture sealable and rigidly connected to the membrane and a platform disposed within the vessel, with clearances to the walls, and having a perforation in the form of 'Raschig rings'; as well as the fact that the matrix is mounted on a perforated platform;

as well as the fact that the control device is equipped with a pulse generator of compressed air.

The use of a mixing device made in the form of a movable platform, the area of which is perforated with holes similar to “Rashig rings”, can significantly improve the process of mixing the working fluid and increase the load of the apparatus during liquid-phase processes, which improves the quality of the target products and the productivity of the apparatus.

Separation of the processes of aeration and mixing of the working fluid can increase the controllability of the fermentation process and significantly reduce the flow of aerating gases for its conduct and reduce the load on the bacterial gas filters, ensuring the aseptic reliability of the apparatus.

The ability to place a matrix with a solid substrate on a mobile platform allows liquid-phase and solid-phase processes to be carried out in a device with one fermentation tank, which significantly reduces the size, metal consumption and cost of the device.

Using the described drive allows you to significantly expand the frequency response of the reverse movement of the platform and, as a result, increase the efficiency of mass transfer processes.

Figure 1 schematically shows an apparatus for carrying out fermentation processes.

The apparatus contains a fermentation tank 1 with flanges 2, plugs 3 mounted on two opposite sides of the tank, a heat transfer jacket 4 mounted on the tank 1, a nozzle 5 for introducing aerated gases, a nozzle 6 for introducing nutrient solutions and a seed culture, a nozzle 7 for discharging waste gases from the fermentation tank, nozzle 8 for draining the finished product, flange 9, a device for mixing the working fluid, including a chamber 10 for compressed air mounted on the flange 9, an elastic membrane 11 mounted between the flange 9 and the chamber 10, the pusher 12, rigidly mounted on the membrane along the axis of the sealed hole of the tank 1, the platform 13, rigidly connected to the free end of the pusher 12, located inside the fermentation tank with a gap to the walls of the tank and provided with holes 14 made in the form of "Rashig rings ", A fitting 15 for supplying compressed air to a device for mixing a working fluid, a matrix 16, a pump 17, a buffer tank 18, a fitting 19 for venting exhaust gases from the buffer tank, airlock 20, controlled valves 21; 22; 23; 24, 25, control device 26, fittings 27; 28; 29; thirty; 31; 32; 33 for connecting external service systems.

The housing of the fermentation tank 1 is made in the form of a “tee”, the end holes of which are provided with flanges 2 and 9 and have a horizontal working position.

The matrix 16 is made, for example, in the form of a perforated container or mesh corrugated fabric and may have a film coating of nutrients or sorbents. It is mounted on platform 14 in the solid state fermentation process mode.

The pump 17 is connected to the fittings 6 and 28 and provides the supply of nutrient solutions and seed culture in the tank 1.

The buffer tank 18 is connected to a nozzle 7 for exhaust gas removal from the fermentation tank, with a nozzle 29 for connecting to an exhaust gas analyzer (not shown in FIG. 1) or venting gases into the atmosphere and through a valve 21 controlled by a lock chamber 20.

The lock chamber 20 through controlled valves 22, 23, 24 and 25 is connected, respectively, with a fermentation tank 1, with a fitting 30 for supplying water vapor, with a fitting 31 for connecting to a collection of fermentation products, and with a fitting 32 for connecting to a sewer.

The control device 26 is equipped with a pulse generator of compressed air, which ensures the operation of the device for mixing the working fluid, and is connected to the fitting 15.

The control buses of the control device 26 are connected to the controlled valves 22-25 and to the pump 17.

The apparatus allows for the implementation of liquid-phase and solid-phase fermentation processes. Liquid phase processes are carried out without the use of matrix 16.

Before the implementation of fermentation processes, they are connected to the apparatus (not shown in FIG. 1):

- a source of aerating gases through the nozzle 27;

- sources of nutrient solutions and seed culture through fitting 28;

- an analyzer of exhaust gases or discharge of gases into the atmosphere through the fitting 29;

- a source of water vapor through the fitting 30;

- a collection of fermentation products through the fitting 31;

- sewer drain through the fitting 32;

- a source of compressed air through the fitting 33.

When liquid-phase processes are implemented, after performing the indicated connections, a nutrient solution and a seed culture in predetermined volumes are introduced into the tank 1 through the nozzle 6 by means of a pump 17. Through the pipe 5, the tank 1, the pipe 7, the buffer tank 18 and the nozzle 19 establish a gas flow with a given flow rate, and in the heat exchange jacket 4 maintain a predetermined carrier temperature. On the control device 26, the work programs of the mixing device, the pump 17 and the lock chamber 20 are set.

After starting these programs, through the fitting 15, pulses of compressed air continuously enter the chamber 10, the impact of which drives the elastic membrane 11, the pusher 12 and the platform 13 rigidly fixed on it.

The membrane 11, the pusher 12 and the platform 13 make a reciprocating movement with a given frequency, while the movement of the platform is accompanied by a reversible flow of working fluid through the holes 14, made in the form of "Rashig rings", providing optimal conditions for mixing the liquid in the tank 1.

The intensification of the gas exchange of the working fluid under these conditions occurs due to the active turbulence of the fluid created by the fluid jets formed in the openings 14 during the movement of the platform 13 and ventilation of the gas-liquid interface, which is carried out by the gas flow through the tank 1.

The geometric shape and horizontal position of the apparatus can significantly increase the area of contact of gases with the liquid and ensure effective mixing of the working fluid without the formation of stagnant zones, which helps to improve the quality of the target products.

The fermentation process is accompanied by the execution of programs implemented by the control device 26:

- input into the tank 1 titration or nutrient solutions through the pump 17;

- discharge of fermentation products through the operation of the lock chamber 20.

During the fermentation process, titration and nutrient solutions enter the tank 1 through the pump 17, which increases the initial working volume of the apparatus, which is compensated by the volume of the fermentation products drained from the tank 1 by means of the lock chamber 20.

The work program of the lock chamber 20 is implemented by performing the following procedures.

Procedure 1.

Operated valves 23 and 24 are opened, while saturated water vapor is blown through the nozzle 30, the lock chamber 20 and the valve 24, which is discharged through the nozzle 32 into the sewer. This state is maintained for a predetermined time, after which the valves 32 and 23 are closed and the lock chamber 20 is cooled by ambient air until a reduced atmospheric pressure is created in the chamber 20.

Procedure 2.

The controlled valve 22 opens and the chamber 20 is completely filled with liquid fermentation products coming from the tank 1 through the drain pipe 8 and the open valve 22.

Procedure 3.

The valve 22 closes and the controlled valves 21 and 25 open. The fermentation product from the chamber 20 is displaced by the exhaust gases coming from the vessel 18 through the valve 21, and through the valve 25 and the nozzle 31 enters the fermentation products collector. After complete draining of the fermentation products from the chamber 20, the valves 25 and 21 are closed.

After performing procedure 3, procedure 1 is performed, after which a predetermined time pause is maintained and the process is repeated from procedure 2 until the work program of the lock chamber 20 is manually stopped.

When carrying out fermentation processes, the buffer tank 18 performs the functions of a droplet collector, which in the exhaust gas stream can enter through the nozzle 7 into the buffer tank 18 and a fractional gas separator from the liquid, which helps to increase the aseptic protection of the processes from pollution by extraneous microflora. The liquid accumulated in the tank 18 is discharged into the collection of fermentation products in the unloading procedure of the chamber 20.

Solid phase processes are carried out according to the technology of liquid phase processes. The main difference is the use of matrices 16 in solid-phase processes.

Before fermentation, the matrix 16 is filled with a solid substrate, fixed on the platform 13 and sterilized together with the apparatus in an autoclave or steam.

In the tank 1, pump 17 make a nutrient solution in the amount necessary for immersion of the platform 13 in the liquid and seed culture. Through the pipe 5, the tank 1, the pipe 2 and the buffer tank 18 is blown aerating gas with a given flow rate. After performing these procedures, on the control device 26 set the oscillation frequency of the platform 13 and start the fermentation program of the solid substrate.

When executing the specified program, the platform 13 performs a reciprocating motion, actively mixing the working fluid in the tank 1.

A solid substrate, when moving the platform 13 is wetted by spraying the working fluid on the surface of the matrix 16, which contributes to the formation of multiple cell growth points - the producers of the target products. In the process of solid-phase fermentation taking place in the matrix 16, the necessary humidity and gas exchange are maintained due to the constant ventilation of the tank 1 and the movement of the platform 13.

The efficiency of the solid-phase process is achieved through the use of the matrix 16, made in the form of a perforated container and control the frequency of movement of the platform 13 with the matrix 16 in the tank 1 with active ventilation of the outer surface of the matrix 16 with aerating gas blown through the gas cavity of the tank 1.

Claims (3)

1. Apparatus for carrying out fermentation processes, including a horizontally located fermentation tank with a heat exchange jacket, plugs and fittings, respectively, for supplying aerating gas, venting the gas medium, introducing the seed culture and nutrient solutions, draining the finished product, pump, for introducing into the seed tank culture and nutrient solutions, a buffer tank connected by a pipe to the fitting of the outlet of the gas medium and pipelines with built-in controlled valves with a fermentation tank and a lock chamber communicated by pipelines with controlled valves, respectively, with a finished product drain fitting and a sewer drain fitting, matrix, for conducting solid-phase fermentation and a control device, characterized in that the fermentation tank is made in the form of a “tee” with flanges, with two opposite ends the containers are closed with plugs, and at the third end of the container there is a device for mixing the working fluid, containing a chamber for compressed air, fixed through an elastic membrane on a flange and equipped with a compressed air supply fitting, a pusher located in the center of the sealed hole and rigidly connected to the membrane and the platform located inside the tank, with gaps to its walls, and having a perforation in the form of "Rashig rings". 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix is mounted on a perforated platform. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device is equipped with a pulse generator of compressed air.