CH563457A5

CH563457A5 - Prod. discharge control in a bioreactor e.g. a fermenter - using discharge valve dependent on current consumption of motor driving brake vane

Info

Publication number: CH563457A5
Application number: CH312774A
Authority: CH
Original assignee: Mueller Hans Maennedorf
Priority date: 1974-03-05
Filing date: 1974-03-05
Publication date: 1975-06-30

Abstract

Appts. for controlling a continuously operating bioreactor includes a brake vane driven by an electromotor built into the foam separating zone of the reactor which controls a discharge valve by means of the current consumption of the motor. Where very light foams are produced, in which the normal measurements of current consumption for the foam separator is too small for control purposes, the braking resistance of the brake vane enables a larger current consumption to be made available.

Description

  

  
 



   Es ist bekannt, dass Bioreaktoren, in welchen z. B. in kontinuierlichem Verfahren Mikroorganismen gezüchtet werden, so gesteuert werden, dass der Zufluss der Nährlösung mit einer Dosiervorrichtung erfolgt und der Abfluss aus dem Reaktor durch die Strom aufnahme eines Schaumabscheiders, welcher im Kopf des Reaktors eingebaut ist. Steigt das Niveau im Reaktor, so vergrössert sich die Stromaufnahme des Schaumabscheiders. Die Strom aufnahme kann demzufolge als Parameter verwendet werden, der den Abfluss reguliert.



   Es hat sich nun gezeigt, dass bei stark schäumenden Medien, speziell in relativ kleinen Apparaten, und speziell bei sehr leichtem Schaum, die Stromaufnahme des Abscheiders zu wenig stark variiert, um eindeutige Resultate für die Abfluss Regelung zu geben.



   Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, eine Vorrichtung zu schaffen, die es ermöglicht eine so grosse Differenz der Stromaufnahme zu erzielen. dass diese zur Steuerung eines Austrittsventiles ausreichend ist.



   Diese Aufgabe wird dadurch gelöst, dass in die Schaumphase des Reaktors ein durch einen Elektromotor angetriebener Bremsflügel eingebaut ist, der über die Strom aufnahme des Elektromotors ein Abflussventil steuert.



   Anhand einer Zeichnung soll die Erfindung beispielsweise näher erläutert werden.



   Fig. 1 zeigt   schenatisch    eine Fermenteranlage.



   Fig.   7    zeigt den Bremsflügel im Querschnitt.



   Ein Fermenterkessel 1 ist mit einem Rührwerk 7 ausgestattet das über einen Antrieb 8 mit Hilfe eines Elektromotors 9 angetrieben wird. Im oberen Teil des Fermenters 1 befindet sich ein mechanischer Schaumabscheider 2, der über einen Antrieb 3 mittels eines Elektromotors 4 angetrieben wird. Auf der nach unten verlängerten Achse 5 des Schaumabscheiders 2 ist ein Bremsflügel 6 angebracht, der in Figur 2 beispielsweise die einfache Form eines Blattes aufweist. Der Bremsflügel kann jedoch auch von einem selbständigen Motor angetrieben werden oder aber direkt auf der Rührerachse des Fermenters befestigt sein. Die Substratzufuhr erfolgt über eine Zuleitung 13, der Abfluss über ein Ernteventil 10.



   Der Bremsflügel 6 kann beliebig dimensioniert werden, um auch in leichten Schäumen die zur Regelung nötige Stromdifferenz zu liefern. Die Stromaufnahme wird gemäss Figur 1 über den Elektromotor 4 durch ein Messgerät 11 gemessen.



  Das Gerät 11 gibt bei Erreichen eines Sollwertes ein Signal über die Leitung 12 an das Ernteventil 10 weiter.



   Auf diese Weise wird die Stromdifferenz des Motors 4 zur Regelung des Abflusses benutzt. Bei hoher Stromaufnahme, d. h. bei grösserem Widerstand des Bremsflügels 6 öffnet das Ventil 10, und bei geringer Stromaufnahme oder wenig Schaum schliesst das Ventil 10.



   Ein solcher Bremsflügel 6 kann beliebig dimensioniert werden, um auch in leichten Schäumen die zur Regelung nötige Stromdifferenz abzugeben.

 

   PATENTANSPRUCH



   Vorrichtung zur Steuerung eines Bioreaktors für kontinuierlichen Betrieb, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in die Schaumphase des Reaktors (1) ein durch einen Elektromotor (4) angetriebener Bremsflügel (6) eingebaut ist, der über die Stromaufnahme des Elektromotors (4) ein Abflussventil (10) steuert.



   UNTERANSPRÜCHE
1. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Bremsflügel (6) einen eigenen Antrieb besitzt.



   2. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Bremsflügel (6) auf der Antriebswelle des Reaktor-Rührers (7) befestigt ist.



   3. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch und Unteransprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Bremsflügel (6) in der Höhe verstellbar ist.

**WARNUNG** Ende DESC Feld konnte Anfang CLMS uberlappen**.



   



  
 



   It is known that bioreactors in which z. B. in a continuous process microorganisms are grown, controlled so that the inflow of the nutrient solution takes place with a metering device and the outflow from the reactor by the power consumption of a foam separator, which is built into the head of the reactor. If the level in the reactor increases, the power consumption of the foam separator increases. The current consumption can therefore be used as a parameter that regulates the discharge.



   It has now been shown that with strongly foaming media, especially in relatively small devices, and especially with very light foam, the power consumption of the separator varies too little to give clear results for the discharge control.



   The object of the invention is to create a device which makes it possible to achieve such a large difference in current consumption. that this is sufficient to control an outlet valve.



   This object is achieved in that a brake blade driven by an electric motor is installed in the foam phase of the reactor, which controls a drain valve via the power consumption of the electric motor.



   The invention is to be explained in more detail using a drawing, for example.



   Fig. 1 shows schematically a fermenter plant.



   Fig. 7 shows the brake wing in cross section.



   A fermenter vessel 1 is equipped with an agitator 7 which is driven by a drive 8 with the aid of an electric motor 9. In the upper part of the fermenter 1 there is a mechanical foam separator 2 which is driven via a drive 3 by means of an electric motor 4. On the downwardly extended axis 5 of the foam separator 2, a brake wing 6 is attached, which in Figure 2 has, for example, the simple shape of a leaf. The brake wing can, however, also be driven by an independent motor or it can be attached directly to the stirrer shaft of the fermenter. The substrate is supplied via a feed line 13, and the drain via a harvesting valve 10.



   The brake wing 6 can be dimensioned as desired in order to deliver the current difference necessary for regulation even in light foams. The power consumption is measured according to FIG. 1 via the electric motor 4 by a measuring device 11.



  When a target value is reached, the device 11 forwards a signal via the line 12 to the harvesting valve 10.



   In this way, the current difference of the motor 4 is used to regulate the discharge. With high power consumption, i. H. If the resistance of the brake wing 6 is greater, the valve 10 opens, and if there is little power consumption or little foam, the valve 10 closes.



   Such a brake wing 6 can be of any size in order to deliver the current difference required for regulation even in light foams.

 

   PATENT CLAIM



   Device for controlling a bioreactor for continuous operation, characterized in that a brake blade (6) driven by an electric motor (4) is installed in the foam phase of the reactor (1), which is connected to a drain valve (10) via the power consumption of the electric motor (4). controls.



   SUBCLAIMS
1. Device according to claim, characterized in that the brake wing (6) has its own drive.



   2. Device according to claim, characterized in that the brake wing (6) is attached to the drive shaft of the reactor stirrer (7).



   3. Device according to claim and dependent claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the brake wing (6) is adjustable in height.

** WARNING ** End of DESC field could overlap beginning of CLMS **.

Claims

** WARNING ** Beginning of CLMS field could overlap end of DESC **.

It is known that bioreactors in which z. B. in a continuous process microorganisms are grown, controlled so that the inflow of the nutrient solution takes place with a metering device and the outflow from the reactor by the power consumption of a foam separator, which is built into the head of the reactor. If the level in the reactor increases, the power consumption of the foam separator increases. The current consumption can therefore be used as a parameter that regulates the discharge.

It has now been shown that with strongly foaming media, especially in relatively small devices, and especially with very light foam, the power consumption of the separator varies too little to give clear results for the discharge control.

The object of the invention is to create a device which makes it possible to achieve such a large difference in current consumption. that this is sufficient to control an outlet valve.

This object is achieved in that a brake blade driven by an electric motor is installed in the foam phase of the reactor, which controls a drain valve via the power consumption of the electric motor.

The invention is to be explained in more detail using a drawing, for example.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a fermenter plant.

Fig. 7 shows the brake wing in cross section.

A fermenter vessel 1 is equipped with an agitator 7 which is driven by a drive 8 with the aid of an electric motor 9. In the upper part of the fermenter 1 there is a mechanical foam separator 2 which is driven via a drive 3 by means of an electric motor 4. On the downwardly extended axis 5 of the foam separator 2, a brake wing 6 is attached, which in Figure 2 has, for example, the simple shape of a leaf. The brake wing can, however, also be driven by an independent motor or it can be attached directly to the stirrer shaft of the fermenter. The substrate is supplied via a feed line 13, and the drain via a harvesting valve 10.

The brake wing 6 can be dimensioned as desired in order to deliver the current difference necessary for regulation even in light foams. The power consumption is measured according to FIG. 1 via the electric motor 4 by a measuring device 11.

When a target value is reached, the device 11 forwards a signal via the line 12 to the harvesting valve 10.

In this way, the current difference of the motor 4 is used to regulate the discharge. With high power consumption, i. H. If the resistance of the brake wing 6 is greater, the valve 10 opens, and if there is little power consumption or little foam, the valve 10 closes.

Such a brake wing 6 can be of any size in order to deliver the current difference required for regulation even in light foams.

PATENT CLAIM

Device for controlling a bioreactor for continuous operation, characterized in that a brake blade (6) driven by an electric motor (4) is installed in the foam phase of the reactor (1), which via the power consumption of the electric motor (4) has a drain valve (10) controls.

SUBCLAIMS 1. Device according to claim, characterized in that the brake wing (6) has its own drive.

2. Device according to claim, characterized in that the brake wing (6) is attached to the drive shaft of the reactor stirrer (7).

3. Device according to claim and dependent claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the brake wing (6) is adjustable in height.