Inoculation device suitable for high-pressure state

Abstract

The utility model discloses an inoculation device suitable for a high-pressure state, which relates to the technical field of fermentation engineering and comprises a strain bottle, a silica gel hose, a peristaltic pump, a pressurizing device, a stainless steel pipe and a sanitary ball valve, the sanitary ball valve is arranged on an inoculation opening of a fermentation tank, the stainless steel pipe is arranged on the sanitary ball valve, and the stainless steel pipe is arranged on the sanitary ball valve. The output end of the pressurizing device is connected with the stainless steel pipe through a pipeline, the input end of the pressurizing device is connected with the strain bottle through the silica gel hose, and the peristaltic pump is arranged on the silica gel hose; according to the device disclosed by the utility model, strain liquid in the strain bottle is conveyed into the pressurizing device through the peristaltic pump, and then the strain liquid is transferred into the fermentation tank through the pressurizing device, so that the situation that devices such as a silica gel hose and the peristaltic pump cannot be used for supplementing materials under a high-pressure state is avoided, and the material supplementing operation is realized without depressurizing the fermentation tank; meanwhile, the strain liquid does not make contact with air in the whole process, and the situation that the strain liquid is polluted is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fermentation engineering technology, and in particular to an inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions. Background Technology

[0002] In fermentation engineering, inoculation is a crucial step that directly affects the fermentation effect and product quality. There are various common inoculation methods, among which flame inoculation is a relatively traditional method that still has applications in specific scenarios. Flame inoculation primarily utilizes the high temperature generated by a flame to create a localized sterile environment for inoculation. However, flame inoculation has several drawbacks: First, it carries a high risk of contamination, requiring strict operational procedures. The inoculation bottle and the fermenter inoculation port must always be under flame protection; improper operation or slow movements can easily expose the inoculum to contamination. Furthermore, the flame is easily affected by environmental factors such as ventilation, becoming unstable or even extinguished, thus compromising the sterile environment. Second, it poses a safety threat to operators, as the high temperature of the flame can easily burn hands during inoculation. Third, it is difficult to automate, relying mainly on manual operation and difficult to integrate with automated equipment and systems. This hinders large-scale and high-efficiency fermentation production and fails to meet the demands of modern fermentation engineering for automation and intelligence.

[0003] The "Multi-purpose Fermentation Inoculation Device" proposed in application number 202021712448.3 features a compact and small inoculation port that occupies little space and is easy to install on various fermenters. The inoculation port has good sealing performance, low risk of contamination, and is easy to disassemble and clean. The device has a wide range of applications, not only for inoculation under normal fermentation conditions but also for feeding under normal fermentation conditions. The breathing filtration device can filter the air inside and outside the culture bottle during the inoculation process, making it safer and more rigorous.

[0004] In certain specialized fermentation processes or under strict fermentation conditions, the pressure inside the fermenter may increase. For example, in some anaerobic fermentation processes, a certain positive pressure needs to be maintained to prevent the entry of external oxygen or to control the generation of gases (such as carbon dioxide) during fermentation, potentially reaching 0.3-0.8 MPa. Additionally, in processes involving high-temperature fermentation or requiring high-pressure treatment of the fermentation material, the pressure is also controlled within this range to improve the fermentation environment for microorganisms or increase fermentation efficiency. However, the operating pressure of conventional small peristaltic pumps typically does not exceed 0.2 MPa, while some industrial peristaltic pumps can reach a maximum pressure of around 0.7 MPa. Furthermore, ordinary silicone tubing can generally withstand pressures of around 0.3-0.8 MPa. Therefore, currently used devices are insufficient for feeding operations in high-pressure processes. To address these issues, an inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions is proposed to meet practical application needs. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention provides an inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions, solving the technical problem that current inoculation devices are unable to meet the feeding operation requirements in high-pressure processing.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides an inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions, including a culture bottle, a silicone tubing, a peristaltic pump, a pressurizing device, a stainless steel pipe, and a sanitary ball valve. The sanitary ball valve is installed at the inoculation port of the fermenter, the stainless steel pipe is installed on the sanitary ball valve, the output end of the pressurizing device is connected to the stainless steel pipe through a pipe, the input end of the pressurizing device is connected to the culture bottle through the silicone tubing, and the peristaltic pump is installed on the silicone tubing.

[0007] In some embodiments, the pressurizing device includes a pressurizing container, the pressurizing container includes a container shell, the container shell is provided with a pressurizing piston inside, the pressurizing piston divides the interior of the container shell into a liquid storage chamber and a cavity, a first connector and a second connector are respectively provided on one side of the cavity of the container shell, and a third connector and a fourth connector are respectively provided on one side of the liquid storage chamber of the container shell.

[0008] In some embodiments, the pressurized container further includes a first ball valve, a connecting pipe, an air compressor, and a second ball valve. The output end of the first ball valve is connected to a fourth connector, the input end of the connecting pipe is connected to a third connector, the output end of the air compressor is connected to a second connector, and the inlet end of the second ball valve is connected to the first connector.

[0009] In some embodiments, the input end of the first ball valve is provided with a check valve and then connected to the output end of a silicone hose, and the output end of the connecting pipe is connected to the input end of a stainless steel pipe.

[0010] In some embodiments, the bottle opening of the culture bottle is provided with a sealing plug, the sealing plug is provided with a breathing tube, and the breathing tube is provided with a breathing filter.

[0011] In some embodiments, the silicone tubing is fitted onto the pump head roller of the peristaltic pump.

[0012] Compared with related technologies, the inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0013] This invention provides an inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions. First, the inoculum solution in the inoculum bottle is transported to the pressurization device via a peristaltic pump. Then, the pressurization device transfers the inoculum solution to the fermentation tank. This avoids the inability of devices such as silicone hoses and peristaltic pumps to perform feeding operations under high pressure. It achieves feeding operations without depressurizing the fermentation tank, thus improving work efficiency. At the same time, the inoculum solution does not come into contact with air throughout the process, avoiding contamination of the inoculum solution. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the pressurization device of this utility model;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the pressurized container of this utility model.

[0017] Numbered in the diagram: 1. Culture bottle; 2. Breathing tube; 3. Breathing filter; 4. Silicone tubing; 5. Peristaltic pump; 6. Pressurizing device; 7. Stainless steel pipe; 8. Sanitary ball valve; 9. Fermentation tank; 10. Inoculation port; 61. Pressurized container; 62. First ball valve; 63. Check valve; 64. Connecting pipe; 65. Air compressor; 66. Second ball valve; 611. Container shell; 612. Pressurizing piston; 613. First connector; 614. Second connector; 615. Third connector; 616. Fourth connector. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Example 1

[0019] This embodiment provides an inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions, such as... Figure 1-3 As shown, this utility model includes a culture bottle 1, a silicone hose 4, a peristaltic pump 5, a pressurizing device 6, a stainless steel pipe 7, and a sanitary ball valve 8. The sanitary ball valve 8 is installed on the inoculation port 10 of the fermenter 9, the stainless steel pipe 7 is installed on the sanitary ball valve 8, the output end of the pressurizing device 6 is connected to the stainless steel pipe 7 through a pipe, the input end of the pressurizing device 6 is connected to the culture bottle 1 through the silicone hose 4, and the peristaltic pump 5 is installed on the silicone hose 4.

[0020] In this embodiment, the fermenter 9 is a pressurized sealed cavity. The inoculation port 10 is integrally formed with the fermenter 9. The sanitary ball valve 8 is connected to the inoculation port 10 and the stainless steel pipe 7 via a sanitary clamp. The stainless steel pipe 7 is made of food-grade stainless steel. After the peristaltic pump 5 delivers the inoculum from the culture bottle 1 to the pressurizing device 6 through the silicone hose 4, the pipeline between the silicone hose 4 and the pressurizing device 6 is closed. Then, the inoculum from the pressurizing device 6 enters the fermenter 9 through the stainless steel pipe 7, the sanitary ball valve 8, and the inoculation port 10, realizing pressurized feeding operation of the fermenter 9. This also avoids repeated depressurization and repressurization of the fermenter 9, improving the efficiency of feeding.

[0021] Example 2

[0022] like Figure 3As shown, based on Embodiment 1, the pressurizing device 6 in this embodiment includes a pressurizing container 61, which includes a container shell 611. A pressurizing piston 612 is provided inside the container shell 611. The pressurizing piston 612 divides the interior of the container shell 611 into a liquid storage chamber and a cavity. A first connector 613 and a second connector 614 are respectively provided on one side of the cavity of the container shell 611, and a third connector 615 and a fourth connector 616 are respectively provided on one side of the liquid storage chamber of the container shell 611.

[0023] In this embodiment, the pressurizing piston 612 can move up and down in the container shell 611 to change the volume of the liquid storage chamber and the cavity in the container shell 611.

[0024] Example 3

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, based on Embodiment 2, the pressurized container 61 in this embodiment further includes a first ball valve 62, a connecting pipe 64, an air compressor 65, and a second ball valve 66. The output end of the first ball valve 62 is connected to a fourth connector 616, the input end of the connecting pipe 64 is connected to a third connector 615, the output end of the air compressor 65 is connected to a second connector 614, and the inlet end of the second ball valve 66 is connected to a first connector 613. A one-way valve 63 is installed at the input end of the first ball valve 62, which is then connected to the output end of the silicone hose 4. The output end of the connecting pipe 64 is connected to the input end of the stainless steel pipe 7.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first ball valve 62 controls the opening and closing of the pipeline between the silicone hose 4 and the pressurizing device 6. After opening the first ball valve 62 and the second ball valve 66 and closing the sanitary ball valve 8, the peristaltic pump 5 can transport the inoculum liquid in the inoculum bottle 1 to the storage chamber of the pressurizing container 61, increasing the volume of the storage chamber. At this time, the pressurizing piston 612 moves upward. The one-way valve 63 prevents the first ball valve 62 from not closing completely, which could lead to excessive pressure in the silicone hose 4 and cause damage. After closing the first ball valve 62 and the second ball valve 66, the air compressor 65 is turned on and its pressure is set to be the same as that in the fermenter 9. Then, the sanitary ball valve 8 is opened to further increase the pressure of the air compressor 65, causing the pressurizing piston 612 to move downward. The inoculum liquid flows into the fermenter 9 sequentially through the connecting pipe 64, the stainless steel pipe 7, and the sanitary ball valve 8. Finally, the sanitary ball valve 8 is closed.

[0027] Example 4

[0028] Based on Example 1, the bottle mouth of the culture bottle 1 in this example is provided with a sealing plug, a breathing tube 2 is provided on the sealing plug, and a breathing filter 3 is provided on the breathing tube 2.

[0029] In this embodiment, the inoculum bottle 1 is made of glass or metal and is used to hold inoculum solution or other nutrient solutions and acid / alkali solutions. The breath filter 3 is preferably made of polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride.

[0030] Example 5

[0031] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, the middle part of the silicone hose 4 is fitted onto the pump head roller of the peristaltic pump 5. The inner diameter of the silicone hose 4 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pump head roller of the peristaltic pump 5, so that the silicone hose 4 can be tightly fitted onto the roller during installation.

[0032] In this embodiment, the silicone hose 4 is selected from the brand and model Baoding Leifu BT101F to achieve precise feeding.

[0033] Working principle: First, the inoculum liquid in the inoculum bottle 1 is transported to the pressurizing device 6 through the peristaltic pump 5. Then, the pressurizing device 6 transfers the inoculum liquid to the fermentation tank 9. This avoids the inability of devices such as the silicone hose 4 and the peristaltic pump 5 to perform feeding under high pressure. It achieves feeding without depressurizing the fermentation tank 9, thus improving work efficiency. At the same time, the inoculum liquid does not come into contact with air throughout the process, avoiding contamination of the inoculum liquid.

[0034] Experimental steps:

[0035] S1: First, follow the appendix Figure 1 Complete the device connection;

[0036] S2: Keep the sanitary ball valve 8 closed, the second ball valve 66 and the first ball valve 62 open, and ensure that the position of the pressure piston 612 is not too high;

[0037] S3: Start the peristaltic pump 5. At this time, the inoculum in the inoculum bottle 1 will flow into the storage chamber of the pressurized container 61 through the silicone hose 4, one-way valve 63, first ball valve 62 and fourth connector 616. The pressurized piston 612 moves upward as the volume of the inoculum in the storage chamber increases, thereby discharging the air in the cavity from the first connector 613 through the second ball valve 66.

[0038] S4: After a certain amount of bacterial culture liquid is in the container shell 611, turn off the peristaltic pump 5, and then close the second ball valve 66 and the first ball valve 62;

[0039] S5: Turn on the air compressor 65 and set the pressure of the air compressor 65 to be the same as the pressure in the fermentation tank 9;

[0040] S6: After the pressure at the output end of the air compressor 65 reaches the level of the fermenter 9, the sanitary ball valve 8 is opened to continue increasing the pressure of the air compressor 65, thereby causing the pressurizing piston 612 to move downward, so that the inoculum liquid is completely discharged. The inoculum liquid will flow into the fermenter 9 in sequence through the connecting pipe 64, the stainless steel pipe 7 and the sanitary ball valve 8. After the inoculum liquid is completely discharged, the sanitary ball valve 8 is closed to complete the feeding operation.

Claims

1. An inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions, comprising a culture bottle (1), a silicone tubing (4), a peristaltic pump (5), a pressurizing device (6), a stainless steel tube (7), and a sanitary ball valve (8), characterized in that: The sanitary ball valve (8) is installed on the inoculation port (10) of the fermenter (9), the stainless steel pipe (7) is installed on the sanitary ball valve (8), the output end of the pressurizing device (6) is connected to the stainless steel pipe (7) through a pipe, the input end of the pressurizing device (6) is connected to the culture bottle (1) through the silicone hose (4), and the peristaltic pump (5) is installed on the silicone hose (4).

2. The inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressurizing device (6) includes a pressurizing container (61), which includes a container shell (611). The container shell (611) is provided with a pressurizing piston (612) inside. The pressurizing piston (612) divides the interior of the container shell (611) into a liquid storage chamber and an empty chamber. A first connector (613) and a second connector (614) are respectively provided on one side of the empty chamber of the container shell (611), and a third connector (615) and a fourth connector (616) are respectively provided on one side of the liquid storage chamber of the container shell (611).

3. The inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressurized container (61) also includes a first ball valve (62), a connecting pipe (64), an air compressor (65), and a second ball valve (66). The output end of the first ball valve (62) is connected to a fourth connector (616), the input end of the connecting pipe (64) is connected to a third connector (615), the output end of the air compressor (65) is connected to a second connector (614), and the air inlet end of the second ball valve (66) is connected to a first connector (613).

4. The inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first ball valve (62) is connected to the output end of the silicone hose (4) after a one-way valve (63) is installed at the input end, and the output end of the connecting pipe (64) is connected to the input end of the stainless steel pipe (7).

5. The inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottle (1) is provided with a sealing plug at the mouth, and a breathing tube (2) is provided on the sealing plug, and a breathing filter (3) is provided on the breathing tube (2).

6. The inoculation device suitable for high-pressure conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The silicone hose (4) is fitted onto the pump head roller of the peristaltic pump (5).

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