A combined cylindrical photobioreactor and method of use thereof

Abstract

The application provides a combined cylindrical photobioreactor and a use method thereof, which comprises a plurality of quartz glass pipe groups arranged uniformly along vertical fold lines, and a first organic glass reactor and a second organic glass reactor which are arranged at two ends of the plurality of quartz glass pipe groups and are sealingly connected; each of the quartz glass pipe groups comprises a quartz glass inner pipe and a quartz glass middle pipe and a quartz glass outer pipe which are gap-set on the outer side of the quartz glass inner pipe in sequence, a light source is arranged axially in the quartz glass inner pipe, and a water bath device is connected between the quartz glass middle pipe and the quartz glass inner pipe; the reaction liquid and the bacteria continuously flow and mix in one direction through the multi-stage stepped flow guide partition plates, and meanwhile, the quartz glass pipe groups can expand the area of the reaction liquid and the bacteria contacting the light source and the temperature, so that the hydrogen production efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of microbial technology and reactor devices, specifically relating to a combined cylindrical photobioreactor and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] The maintenance and development of society cannot be separated from energy support. Currently, fossil fuels remain the primary energy source for humankind. However, fossil fuel reserves are finite and non-renewable, and their use inevitably generates a series of environmental problems. Therefore, developing and researching sustainable and renewable new energy sources is a major issue that humanity must address. Hydrogen energy, due to its cleanliness and efficiency, is considered the most promising alternative energy source. Among the many hydrogen production methods, microbial hydrogen production, especially photosynthetic bacterial hydrogen production, offers mild reaction conditions, can utilize solar energy, and uses biomass and organic waste as substrates, making it a hydrogen production method with significant development potential.

[0003] Photosynthetic bacterial hydrogen production reactors are crucial sites and carriers for hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria. However, in the large-scale development of photosynthetic bacterial hydrogen production, reactor optimization and scale-up are essential challenges. Due to the specific limitations of photosynthetic bacterial hydrogen production, the design and fabrication of these reactors also face certain requirements and constraints. For example, photosynthetic bacterial hydrogen production is temperature-sensitive, necessitating temperature control in the reactor; it requires light, requiring transparent materials and light-transmitting surfaces; the liquid environment and anaerobic conditions necessitate proper sealing; and the light-shielding effect of the bacterial solution limits light penetration, making it difficult to simply increase the reactor's volume. Therefore, scale-up of photosynthetic bacterial hydrogen production reactors remains a significant challenge in current reactor design. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a combined cylindrical photobioreactor and its usage method. The reactor has a large volume and can operate continuously and stably for a long time.

[0005] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] A combined cylindrical photobioreactor includes a multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly arranged uniformly along a vertical zigzag line, and a first plexiglass reactor and a second plexiglass reactor disposed at both ends of the multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly and sealed together.

[0007] Each quartz glass tube assembly includes a quartz glass inner tube and a quartz glass middle tube and an outer quartz glass tube that are sequentially and intermittently sleeved on the outside of the quartz glass inner tube. A light source is axially arranged inside the quartz glass inner tube, and a water bath device is connected between the quartz glass middle tube and the quartz glass inner tube.

[0008] Both the first and second acrylic glass reactors are equipped with multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles, and each flow guide baffle only connects the middle space of two adjacent quartz glass inner tubes and outer tubes; the top and bottom of the multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles in the first or second acrylic glass reactor are equipped with independent flow guide chambers, and the independent flow guide chamber at the top is connected to the feed inlet, while the independent flow guide chamber at the bottom is connected to the feed inlet via a circulating water pump.

[0009] Furthermore, both the first and second plexiglass reactors are provided with an air outlet at the top, and both are provided with a folded tube sampling port, a lower sampling port, and multiple vertically arranged side sampling ports on the side walls.

[0010] Furthermore, both the final stage guide baffle and the bottom independent guide chamber are connected to the discharge ports located at the bottom of the first and second plexiglass reactors.

[0011] Furthermore, the multi-stage flow guide baffles are arranged in a Z-shaped structure, and adjacent multi-stage flow guide baffles are independent of each other;

[0012] Two adjacent quartz glass tube groups connected to the same flow guide baffle have a height difference, which is greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the quartz glass tube group.

[0013] Furthermore, the multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly is sealed on the first and second plexiglass reactors by having an inner sealing assembly and an outer sealing assembly.

[0014] Furthermore, the inner sealing assembly includes an inner sealing seat disposed on the adjacent side of the first plexiglass reactor and the second plexiglass reactor, and an outer tube sealing head sleeved on the quartz glass outer tube and sealed to the inner sealing seat.

[0015] Furthermore, the outer sealing assembly includes an outer sealing seat disposed on the side furthest from the first and second plexiglass reactors.

[0016] The central tube sealing head is fitted onto the quartz glass central tube that runs through the first and second plexiglass reactors and is sealed to the outer sealing seat.

[0017] And an inner tube sealing head that is fitted onto the inner tube of the quartz glass that passes through the middle tube of the quartz glass and is sealed to the middle tube sealing head.

[0018] Furthermore, a circular sealing ring is fitted between the inner sealing seat and the outer tube sealing head, the outer sealing seat and the middle tube sealing head, and the middle tube sealing head and the inner tube sealing head, and they are connected by threads.

[0019] Furthermore, the bottom of the inner sealing seat is provided with a first annular limiting groove, and the first annular limiting groove is sealed and engaged with the end of the quartz glass outer tube.

[0020] The bottom of the outer sealing seat is provided with a second annular limiting groove, and the second annular limiting groove is sealed and engaged with the end of the quartz glass tube.

[0021] The sealing head of the middle tube has a hollow structure inside, which is connected to a water bath interface and also connects to the hollow area between the quartz glass middle tube and the quartz glass inner tube.

[0022] A method for using a combined cylindrical photobioreactor includes the following steps:

[0023] S1: After completing the sealing test, turn on the light source and water bath device, and inject the reaction liquid and bacteria from the feed port of the first or second plexiglass reactor, which is equipped with an independent flow guide chamber.

[0024] S2: The reaction liquid and bacteria enter the independent flow chamber through the feed inlet, flow from one end of the first-stage quartz glass tube group connected to the independent flow chamber to the other end, and enter the flow baffle connected to the other end. At this time, the reaction liquid and bacteria fall into the lower area of ​​the flow baffle due to gravitational potential energy.

[0025] S3: The secondary quartz glass tube group, which is adjacent to the primary quartz glass tube group and located in the same stage of the flow guide baffle, enters the reaction liquid and bacteria. This process is repeated until the reaction liquid and bacteria injected into one end of the final quartz glass tube group through the final stage flow guide baffle flow to the independent flow guide chamber located at the bottom.

[0026] S4: The circulating water pump transfers the reaction liquid and bacteria in the independent diversion chamber at the bottom to the feed inlet, completing one cycle of the reaction liquid and bacteria.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0028] This invention provides a combined cylindrical photobioreactor and its usage method, comprising a multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly uniformly arranged along a vertical zigzag line, and a first and a second acrylic glass reactor disposed at both ends of the multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly and sealed together. Each quartz glass tube assembly includes an inner quartz glass tube and a middle and outer quartz glass tube sequentially and intermittently sleeved around the inner quartz glass tube. A light source is axially arranged inside the inner quartz glass tube, and a water bath is connected between the middle and inner quartz glass tubes. Both the first and second acrylic glass reactors contain multiple... The reactor features a stepped flow-guiding baffle, with each baffle only connecting the middle space of two adjacent quartz glass inner and outer tubes. The first or second acrylic reactor has independent flow-guiding chambers at both the top and bottom of the stepped flow-guiding baffle. The top chamber is connected to the feed inlet, while the bottom chamber is connected to the feed inlet via a circulating water pump. This application utilizes the stepped flow-guiding baffle to allow the reaction liquid and bacteria to continuously flow and mix in one direction. Simultaneously, the quartz glass tube assembly expands the area of ​​contact between the reaction liquid and bacteria and the light source and temperature, thereby improving hydrogen production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a combined cylindrical photobioreactor structure according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the quartz glass tube assembly of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first and second plexiglass reactors of the present invention on the far side;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the near-side structure of the first and second plexiglass reactors of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a front cross-sectional view of the first or second plexiglass reactor of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 A side cross-sectional view of the first or second plexiglass reactor provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the quartz glass tube assembly of the present invention at the junction of the inner sealing assembly and the outer sealing assembly;

[0036] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the outer tube sealing head structure of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the schematic diagram of the tube sealing head structure in this invention;

[0038] Figure 10 This is another perspective view of the schematic diagram of the tube sealing head structure in this invention;

[0039] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the inner tube sealing head of the present invention.

[0040] In the diagram: 1-1, First acrylic reactor; 1-2, Second acrylic reactor; 2, Quartz glass tube assembly; 2-3, Inner quartz glass tube; 2-2, Middle quartz glass tube; 2-1, Outer quartz glass tube; 3, Inner sealing assembly; 3-1, Inner sealing seat; 3-2, Outer tube sealing head; 4, Outer sealing assembly; 4-1, Outer sealing seat; 4-2, Middle tube sealing head; 4-2-3, Water bath interface; 4-3, Inner tube sealing head; 5, Feed inlet; 6, Gas outlet; 7, Bending tube sampling port; 8, Lower sampling port; 9, Side sampling port; 10, Discharge port; 11, Flow guide baffle; 110, Independent flow guide chamber; 13, First annular limiting groove; 14, Second annular limiting groove. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are for explanation purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0042] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0044] This invention provides a combined cylindrical photobioreactor, such as... Figure 1As shown, it includes a multi-stage quartz glass tube group 2 evenly arranged along a vertical zigzag line, and a first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and a second plexiglass reactor 1-2 disposed at both ends of the multi-stage quartz glass tube group 2 and sealed together.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, each of the quartz glass tube assemblies 2 includes a quartz glass inner tube 2-3 and a quartz glass middle tube 2-2 and a quartz glass outer tube 2-1 that are sequentially and intermittently sleeved on the outside of the quartz glass inner tube 2-3. A light source is axially arranged inside the quartz glass inner tube 2-3, and a water bath device is connected between the quartz glass middle tube 2-2 and the quartz glass inner tube 2-3.

[0046] like Figure 5 As shown, both the first acrylic reactor 1-1 and the second acrylic reactor 1-2 are equipped with multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles 11, and each flow guide baffle 11 only connects the middle space of two adjacent quartz glass middle tubes 2-2 and quartz glass outer tubes 2-1; the top and bottom of the multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles 11 in the first acrylic reactor 1-1 or the second acrylic reactor 1-2 are equipped with independent flow guide chambers 110, and the independent flow guide chamber 110 at the top is connected to the feed inlet 5, and the independent flow guide chamber 110 at the bottom is connected to the feed inlet 5 via a circulating water pump.

[0047] Preferred, such as Figure 3 As shown, both the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2 are provided with an outlet 6 at the top, and both are provided with a folded tube sampling port 7, a lower sampling port 8, and multiple vertically arranged side sampling ports 9 on the side walls. It should be noted that the outlet 6 can be used to collect hydrogen or as a pressure sampling end during the sealing test process; the side sampling ports 9 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the height of the multi-stage stepped flow guide baffle 11, and can be used to collect the components of the bacterial reaction solution inside the multi-stage stepped flow guide baffle 11 for reference and reaction process monitoring.

[0048] Preferred, such as Figure 4 As shown, both the final stage baffle 11 and the bottom independent baffle chamber 110 are connected to the discharge ports 10 located at the bottom of the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2; specifically, as shown... Figure 5 As shown, the multi-stage flow guide baffle 11 is arranged in a Z-shape, including a vertically higher plane and a lower plane, and adjacent multi-stage flow guide baffles 11 are independent of each other and do not communicate with each other; the two quartz glass tube groups 2 adjacent to each other and communicating with the same stage flow guide baffle 11 have a height difference, and the height difference is greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the quartz glass tube group 2, so that the outflowing liquid has sufficient gravitational potential energy, and its interior undergoes violent Brownian motion, which enables it to generate hydrogen better.

[0049] Preferred, such as Figure 7 As shown, the multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly 2 is sealed on the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2 by an inner sealing assembly 3 and an outer sealing assembly 4.

[0050] Furthermore, such as Figure 8 As shown, the inner sealing assembly 3 includes an inner sealing seat 3-1 disposed on the adjacent side of the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2, and an outer tube sealing head 3-2 sleeved on the quartz glass outer tube 2-1 and sealed to the inner sealing seat 3-1.

[0051] Furthermore, such as Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the outer sealing assembly 4 includes an outer sealing seat 4-1 disposed on the side furthest from the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2; a central tube sealing head 4-2 sleeved on the quartz glass central tube 2-2 penetrating the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2 and sealed to the outer sealing seat 4-1; and an inner tube sealing head 4-3 sleeved on the quartz glass inner tube 2-3 penetrating the quartz glass central tube 2-2 and sealed to the central tube sealing head 4-2. It should be noted that the inner sealing seat 3-1 and the outer sealing seat 4-1 have similar structures but different inner diameters. They are fixedly disposed on the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 and the second plexiglass reactor 1-2 by means of bonding or threads, etc.

[0052] Preferably, a circular sealing ring is fitted between the inner sealing seat 3-1 and the outer tube sealing head 3-2, the outer sealing seat 4-1 and the middle tube sealing head 4-2, and the middle tube sealing head 4-2 and the inner tube sealing head 4-3, and they are connected by threads; it should be noted that the circular sealing ring is positioned to contact the quartz glass inner tube 2-3, the quartz glass middle tube 2-2, and the quartz glass outer tube 2-1;

[0053] Preferably, as shown in the figure, the bottom of the inner sealing seat 3-1 is provided with a first annular limiting groove 13, and the first annular limiting groove 13 is sealed and snapped with the end of the quartz glass outer tube 2-1 by a sealing gasket, which is used to limit the position of the quartz glass outer tube 2-1, thereby forming a certain cavity.

[0054] The bottom of the outer sealing seat 4-1 is provided with a second annular limiting groove 14, and the second annular limiting groove 14 is sealed and snapped with the end of the quartz glass tube 2-2 by a sealing gasket, which is used to limit the position of the quartz glass tube 2-2, thereby forming a certain cavity.

[0055] The inner part of the central tube sealing head 4-2 is provided with a hollow structure, which is connected to the water bath interface 4-2-3, and the hollow structure is also connected to the hollow area between the quartz glass central tube 2-2 and the quartz glass inner tube 2-3.

[0056] This invention provides a method for using a combined cylindrical photobioreactor, comprising the following steps:

[0057] S1: After completing the sealing test, turn on the light source and water bath device, and inject the reaction liquid and bacteria into the feed port 5 of the first plexiglass reactor 1-1 or the second plexiglass reactor 1-2, which is equipped with an independent flow guide chamber 110.

[0058] S2: The reaction liquid and bacteria enter the independent flow chamber 110 through the feed inlet 5, flow from one end of the first-stage quartz glass tube group 2 of the independent flow chamber 110 to the other end, and enter the flow guide plate 11 connected to the other end. At this time, the reaction liquid and bacteria fall into the lower area of ​​the flow guide plate 11 due to the gravitational potential energy.

[0059] S3: The secondary quartz glass tube group 2, which is adjacent to the primary quartz glass tube group 2 and located in the same stage of the flow guide baffle 11, enters the reaction liquid and bacteria. This process is repeated until the reaction liquid and bacteria injected into one end of the final quartz glass tube group 2 through the final stage flow guide baffle 11 flow to the independent flow guide chamber 110 located at the bottom.

[0060] S4: The circulating water pump transfers the reaction solution and bacteria in the independent guide chamber 110 at the bottom to the feed inlet 5, completing one cycle of the reaction solution and bacteria.

[0061] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A combined cylindrical photobioreactor, characterized in that, It includes a multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly (2) evenly arranged along a vertical fold line, and a first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and a second plexiglass reactor (1-2) disposed at both ends of the multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly (2) and sealed together. Each of the quartz glass tube assemblies (2) includes a quartz glass inner tube (2-3) and a quartz glass middle tube (2-2) and a quartz glass outer tube (2-1) that are sequentially and intermittently sleeved on the outside of the quartz glass inner tube (2-3). A light source is axially arranged inside the quartz glass inner tube (2-3), and a water bath device is connected between the quartz glass middle tube (2-2) and the quartz glass inner tube (2-3). The first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and the second plexiglass reactor (1-2) are both equipped with multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles (11), and each flow guide baffle (11) only connects the middle space of two adjacent quartz glass middle tubes (2-2) and quartz glass outer tubes (2-1); the top and bottom of the multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles (11) in the first plexiglass reactor (1-1) or the second plexiglass reactor (1-2) are equipped with independent flow guide chambers (110), and the independent flow guide chamber (110) at the top is connected to the feed inlet (5), and the independent flow guide chamber (110) at the bottom is connected to the feed inlet (5) via a circulating water pump.

2. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and the second plexiglass reactor (1-2) are both provided with an air outlet (6) at the top, and are provided with a folded tube sampling port (7), a lower sampling port (8) and multiple vertically arranged side sampling ports (9) on the side walls.

3. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The final stage flow guide baffle (11) and the bottom independent flow guide chamber (110) are both connected to the discharge port (10) located at the bottom of the first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and the second plexiglass reactor (1-2).

4. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multi-stage stepped flow guide baffle (11) is arranged in a Z-shaped structure, and adjacent multi-stage stepped flow guide baffles (11) are independent of each other; Two adjacent quartz glass tube groups (2) connected to the same flow guide baffle (11) have a height difference greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the quartz glass tube group (2).

5. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multi-stage quartz glass tube assembly (2) is sealed on the first organic glass reactor (1-1) and the second organic glass reactor (1-2) by an inner sealing assembly (3) and an outer sealing assembly (4).

6. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inner sealing assembly (3) includes an inner sealing seat (3-1) disposed on the adjacent side of the first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and the second plexiglass reactor (1-2), and an outer tube sealing head (3-2) sleeved on the quartz glass outer tube (2-1) and sealed to the inner sealing seat (3-1).

7. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer sealing assembly (4) includes an outer sealing seat (4-1) disposed on the side furthest from the first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and the second plexiglass reactor (1-2). The central tube sealing head (4-2) is fitted onto the quartz glass central tube (2-2) that runs through the first plexiglass reactor (1-1) and the second plexiglass reactor (1-2), and is sealed to the outer sealing seat (4-1). And an inner tube sealing head (4-3) that is fitted onto the inner tube (2-3) that passes through the middle tube (2-2) of the quartz glass and is sealed to the middle tube sealing head (4-2).

8. The combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 7, characterized in that, A circular sealing ring is fitted between the inner sealing seat (3-1) and the outer tube sealing head (3-2), the outer sealing seat (4-1) and the middle tube sealing head (4-2), and the middle tube sealing head (4-2) and the inner tube sealing head (4-3), and they are connected by threads.

9. A combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to claim 7, characterized in that, The bottom of the inner sealing seat (3-1) is provided with a first annular limiting groove (13), and the first annular limiting groove (13) is sealed and snapped with the end of the quartz glass outer tube (2-1); The bottom of the outer sealing seat (4-1) is provided with a second annular limiting groove (14), and the second annular limiting groove (14) is sealed and snapped into the end of the quartz glass tube (2-2); The inner cavity of the central tube sealing head (4-2) is provided with a hollow structure, which is connected to a water bath interface (4-2-3) and also connects the hollow area between the quartz glass central tube (2-2) and the quartz glass inner tube (2-3).

10. A method of using a combined cylindrical photobioreactor, characterized in that, A combined cylindrical photobioreactor according to any one of claims 1-9 includes the following steps: S1: After completing the sealing test, turn on the light source and water bath device, and inject the reaction liquid and bacteria from the feed port (5) of the first plexiglass reactor (1-1) or the second plexiglass reactor (1-2) equipped with an independent flow guide chamber (110); S2: The reaction liquid and bacteria enter the independent flow chamber (110) from the feed inlet (5), flow from one end of the first-stage quartz glass tube group (2) of the independent flow chamber (110) to the other end, and enter the flow guide plate (11) connected to the other end. At this time, the reaction liquid and bacteria fall into the lower area of ​​the flow guide plate (11) due to the gravitational potential energy. S3: The secondary quartz glass tube group (2) adjacent to the primary quartz glass tube group (2) and located in the same stage of the flow guide baffle (11) enters the reaction liquid and bacteria, and this process is repeated until the reaction liquid and bacteria injected into one end of the final quartz glass tube group (2) through the final stage flow guide baffle (11) flow to the independent flow guide chamber (110) located at the bottom. S4: The circulating water pump transfers the reaction liquid and bacteria in the independent diversion chamber (110) at the bottom to the feed inlet (5) to complete one cycle of the reaction liquid and bacteria.

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