Online non-contact liquid loading amount measuring device in fermentation process of microreactor

Abstract

The invention discloses an on-line non-contact liquid loading amount measuring device in the fermentation process of a microreactor, which comprises a floater, a shading piece and an optical device, and is characterized in that the floater is sleeved on an air inlet pipe of the microreactor, so that the floater can longitudinally move on the air inlet pipe of the microreactor along with the height change of the liquid level; the optical device is arranged in the microreactor and is positioned above the floater, and the shading piece is arranged on the outer wall of the microreactor. An optical device is used for measuring the liquid level to calculate the liquid loading amount, the problem of structural decoupling of the fermentation tank and the whole equipment is solved, the requirements of non-contact liquid level measurement and accurate and stable measurement can be met, the structure is small, fermentation is easy, and installation is easy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of fermentation process, in particular to an online non-contact liquid volume measuring device in a micro-reactor fermentation process. Background Art

[0002] Large industrial reactors (above 1L) are equipped with a weighing scale to measure the fermentation liquid volume. At present, small reactors (below 1L) for process development and verification are generally not equipped with a weighing scale, or a weighing scale is installed at the bottom of the entire reactor. The installation of a weighing scale often complicates the structural design of the fermentation equipment, and the weighing scale is easily affected by the experimental process operation.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an online non-contact liquid volume measurement device in a microreactor fermentation process. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an online non-contact liquid filling amount measuring device in a micro-reactor fermentation process, so as to solve the problem of how to weigh the liquid filling amount in a small-scale reactor in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The present invention provides an online non-contact liquid volume measurement device in a microreactor fermentation process, comprising a float, a shading member and an optical device. The float is sleeved on an air inlet pipe of the microreactor so that the float can move longitudinally on the air inlet pipe of the microreactor as the liquid level changes. The optical device is installed in the microreactor and is located above the float. The shading member is arranged on the outer wall of the microreactor.

[0006] In the device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in the microreactor fermentation process, preferably, the float is arranged behind the baffle inside the microreactor.

[0007] In the device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in the microreactor fermentation process, preferably, the optical device is a laser infrared ranging sensor.

[0008] In the device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in the fermentation process of the microreactor, preferably, the light shielding member is a light shielding sleeve, and the light shielding sleeve is mounted on the outer wall of the microreactor.

[0009] In the device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in the microreactor fermentation process, preferably, the light shielding cover is made of aluminum.

[0010] The present invention adopts the above technical solution, which has the following advantages: A float that can float up and down is designed under the optical device to solve the problem of being affected by liquid level fluctuations during measurement.

[0011] The present application uses optical devices to measure the liquid level to calculate the liquid volume, which solves the problem of structural decoupling of the fermentation tank and the entire equipment, can achieve non-contact measurement of the liquid level, and can measure accurately and stably. It has a small structure, is easy to ferment, and is easy to install. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top cross-sectional view of the present invention; Figure 3 It is capacitance versus optical measurement; Figure 4 It is the influence of stirring on the liquid level signal; Figure 5 It is the standard curve of optical liquid level under ventilation condition; Figure 6 It is the result of liquid level control.

[0013] Reference numerals in the figures: 1. Optical sensor; 2. Air intake pipe; 3. Light shielding element; 4. Float; 5. Baffle; 6. Flow direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the term "disposed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0016] The present invention provides an online non-contact liquid filling amount measurement device in a microreactor fermentation process. The present invention comprises a float, a shading member and an optical device. The float is sleeved on the air inlet pipe of the microreactor to enable the float to move longitudinally on the air inlet pipe of the microreactor as the height of the liquid level changes. The optical device is installed in the microreactor and is located above the float. The shading member is arranged on the outer wall of the microreactor. The present invention uses an optical device to measure the liquid level to calculate the liquid filling amount, which solves the problem of structural decoupling between the fermentation tank and the entire equipment, can realize non-contact measurement of the liquid level, and can measure accurately and stably. It has a small structure, is easy to ferment, and is easy to install.

[0017] Next, an online non-contact liquid volume measurement device in a microreactor fermentation process provided by an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The device shown is an online non-contact liquid filling amount measurement device in a microreactor fermentation process, comprising a float 4, a shading member 3 and an optical device 1. The float 4 is sleeved on the air inlet pipe 2 of the microreactor along the process direction 6 so that the float 4 can move longitudinally on the air inlet pipe 2 of the microreactor as the liquid level changes. The optical device 1 is installed in the microreactor and located above the float 4. The optical device 1 calculates the liquid filling amount by measuring the liquid level. The shading member 3 is arranged on the outer wall of the microreactor.

[0019] Furthermore, the float 4 is arranged behind the baffle 5 inside the microreactor, where the turbulence of the baffle 5 is less, the flow field is stable and the kinetic energy of the liquid is low.

[0020] Furthermore, the float 4 is resistant to high temperatures of 121° C., is non-toxic, has good biocompatibility, and is easy to process.

[0021] Furthermore, the optical device 1 is a laser infrared ranging sensor, the model of the laser infrared ranging sensor is GY-VL3L0X, and the cost is 20 yuan.

[0022] Furthermore, the light shielding member 3 is a light shielding sleeve, and the light shielding sleeve 3 is sleeved on the outer wall of the microreactor, wherein the light shielding sleeve is made of aluminum.

[0023] Reference Figure 3 Comparison of optical measurement and non-contact capacitance measurement. To solve the problem of measurement being affected by liquid level fluctuations, a float 4 that can float up and down is designed under the optical device 1, and the small up and down floating of the float caused by the liquid level is removed by a filtering algorithm. To save space in the microreactor, the float 4 is placed on the air inlet pipe 2 of the microreactor. Since optical ranging is affected by ambient light, the entire tank is designed to be light-proof in structure, and the reactor is protected from light by a light-shielding aluminum sleeve.

[0024] Example A float 4, a light shield 3 and an optical device 1 were installed in a 100 mL reactor to test the effect of stirring on the reaction mixture.

[0025] The results are as follows Figure 4 As shown in the figure, with the increase of stirring speed, the liquid level measurement error does not exceed 10%.

[0026] At the same time, refer to Figure 5 As shown, under ventilation conditions, the liquid level and the optical signal have a good linear relationship, which meets most experimental requirements.

[0027] The reactor device in this embodiment is used for liquid level control. Water is added to the reactor at a rate of 0.3 mL / min by the feed pump. Then, the optical device 1 and the float 4 collect liquid level information to feedback control the flow rate of the discharge pump. The liquid level is controlled from 20 mL->50 mL->30 mL->40 mL. The results are as follows: Figure 6 .

[0028] An optical distance measuring device is designed above the reactor to measure the liquid level. The optical device calculates the liquid level by irradiating the fermentation liquid downward and receiving the reflected light. At the same time, in order to reduce the impact of liquid level fluctuations on liquid level measurement, a float that floats up and down is designed inside the reactor. At this time, the optical device measures the height of the float to indirectly measure the liquid level.

[0029] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An online non-contact liquid volume measurement device in a microreactor fermentation process, characterized in that: The invention comprises a float, a shading member and an optical device. The float is sleeved on the air inlet pipe of the microreactor so that the float can move longitudinally on the air inlet pipe of the microreactor as the height of the liquid level changes. The optical device is installed in the microreactor and is located above the float. The shading member is arranged on the outer wall of the microreactor.

2. The device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in a microreactor fermentation process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The float is arranged behind the baffle inside the microreactor.

3. The device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in a microreactor fermentation process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical device is a laser infrared ranging sensor.

4. The device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in a microreactor fermentation process according to claim 3, characterized in that: The shading member is a shading sleeve, and the shading sleeve is sleeved on the outer wall of the microreactor.

5. The device for online non-contact measurement of liquid volume in a microreactor fermentation process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The material of the light-shielding sleeve is aluminum.

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