Device capable of culturing microorganism silt at different flow velocity levels

Abstract

The utility model relates to a device capable of culturing microorganism silt at different flow velocity levels, which belongs to the technical field of microorganism silt culture and comprises a culture cylinder and a nutrient solution cylinder. A liquid inlet pipe is arranged on the culture cylinder, and an electromagnetic valve I is mounted on the liquid inlet pipe; the liquid inlet pump is arranged at the bottom of the nutrient solution cylinder; the system further comprises a controller. A drainage pump is arranged at the bottom of the culture cylinder, the water outlet end of the drainage pump is connected with a drainage pipe, and an electromagnetic valve II is mounted on the drainage pipe; a water level sensor, a flow velocity sensor and a thermometer are mounted in the culture cylinder; a sand box is placed in the culture cylinder; an adjustable LED lamp is further fixedly installed on the inner side wall of the culture cylinder, and a light intensity sensor is further installed on the inner side wall of the culture cylinder. According to the scheme, through the combination of the parts, the limitation of the device in the conventional biological sediment culture experiment is broken through, and the purpose of culturing the microbial sediment at different flow velocity levels is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of microbial sediment cultivation equipment, specifically relating to a device that can cultivate microbial sediment at different flow rate levels. Background Technology

[0002] Microbial sediment refers to the interaction and symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and sediment. Microorganisms attach to the surface of sediment particles, forming biocement that enhances the cohesiveness and stability of the sediment. In addition, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing colloidal substances that further promote the aggregation and consolidation of sediment particles; sediment provides a living environment for microorganisms, offering abundant nutrients and tiny habitats.

[0003] Existing indoor devices for cultivating microbial sediment all cultivate the microorganisms in still water. This differs from the formation process of microbial sediment in nature, where it typically forms in water bodies with a certain flow rate. Therefore, the microbial sediment cultivated by existing devices may not closely resemble that found in actual natural environments. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention relates to a device that can cultivate microbial sediment at different flow rates. It can adjust the water flow rate during the cultivation of microbial sediment, thereby more accurately simulating the natural formation environment of microbial sediment.

[0005] This utility model discloses a device for cultivating microbial sediment at different flow rate levels, comprising a culture tank and a nutrient solution tank;

[0006] The culture tank is equipped with an inlet pipe. One end of the inlet pipe is fixed and connected to the culture tank, and the other end is equipped with an inlet pump. The outlet of the inlet pump is connected to the inlet pipe. A solenoid valve is installed on the inlet pipe. The inlet pump is placed at the bottom of the nutrient solution tank, and the inlet of the inlet pump is below the liquid surface of the nutrient solution tank.

[0007] It also includes a controller, an inlet pump, and solenoid valves, all of which are electrically connected to the controller;

[0008] The culture tank is equipped with a drain pump, which is placed at the bottom of the culture tank. The outlet of the drain pump is equipped with a drain pipe that extends into the nutrient solution tank. A solenoid valve is installed on the drain pipe.

[0009] The drain pump and solenoid valve are electrically connected to the controller; the inlet pump and drain pump are adjustable flow rate water pumps.

[0010] The culture tank is equipped with a water level sensor, a flow rate sensor, and a thermometer; the heights of the flow rate sensor, water level sensor, and thermometer are set from low to high; a sandbox is placed in the culture tank, and the flow rate sensor is located above the sandbox; an adjustable LED light is also fixedly installed on the inner wall of the culture tank, and the adjustable LED light is located above the thermometer; a light intensity sensor is also installed on the inner wall of the culture tank.

[0011] The light intensity sensor, water level sensor, flow rate sensor, thermometer, and adjustable LED light are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0012] Nutrient solution containing microorganisms is pumped into the culture tank by an inlet pump, and then pumped back into the nutrient solution tank by a drain pump, forming a cycle. Through the continuous circulation of nutrient solution, the nutrient solution flows in the culture tank at a certain flow rate, which can simulate the formation conditions of microbial sediment in non-pure water conditions in nature. The prepared microbial sediment is more similar to the microbial sediment in nature.

[0013] Furthermore, the culture tank is fixedly connected with partition 1, partition 2, and partition 3, which divide the culture tank into buffer zone 1, culture zone 2, and drainage zone in sequence. Partition 1, partition 2, and partition 3 are all provided with through holes, and buffer zone 1, culture zone 2, and drainage zone are connected through the through holes on partition 1, partition 2, and partition 3. Buffer zone 1 and buffer zone 2 are each provided with several slow-flow balls. The outlet of the liquid inlet pipe is located in buffer zone 1, and the pipe at the inlet end of the drainage pump is located in the drainage zone. The sandbox, light intensity sensor, water level sensor, flow rate sensor, thermometer, and adjustable LED light are all located in the culture zone.

[0014] The flow-slowing ball can slow down the flow rate in the culture zone, reduce the disturbance caused by the inlet and outlet pumps to the water in the culture zone, and make the water flow rate in the culture zone more stable, without sudden increases or decreases in the water flow rate in a short period of time.

[0015] Furthermore, the specifications of the drain pump are the same as those of the inlet pump. The same specifications mean that when the speed of the drain pump and the inlet pump are the same, the flow rates of the drain pump and the inlet pump are equal.

[0016] The controller ensures that the flow rates of the inlet and outlet pumps are equal by controlling the rotation speeds of the drain pump and the inlet pump to be equal. With this setting, the water level in the culture tank will not change, but the flow rate in the culture tank can change.

[0017] Furthermore, an oxygenation pump is installed in the nutrient solution tank. The outlet of the oxygenation pump is located below the nutrient solution level in the nutrient solution tank via a pipe, while the inlet of the oxygenation pump is connected to the atmosphere.

[0018] It can draw air below the surface of the nutrient solution, increasing the solubility of oxygen in the nutrient solution and ensuring that microorganisms are less likely to die in the nutrient solution.

[0019] Furthermore, the inner bottom wall of the cultivation area is fixed with multiple supports for fixing the sandbox. The multiple supports are in close contact with the outer wall of the sandbox to fix the sandbox.

[0020] The support can restrict the position of the sandbox in the culture area, preventing the sandbox from moving in the culture area due to water flow, which could introduce errors into the experiment.

[0021] Beneficial effects:

[0022] This device uses an inlet pump and a drain pump to circulate the water in the culture tank, ensuring a stable flow rate. This simulates the hydrodynamic conditions during the formation of microbial sediment in nature, resulting in biofilm morphology and properties of the microbial sediment cultured using this device that are similar to those in the natural environment. The device can simulate different flow rate levels and is suitable for various experiments, thus improving the experimental conditions for indoor controlled experiments.

[0023] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of previous indoor controlled experiments on biological sediment culture. Based on actual conditions, a microbial sediment culture device with stable water flow under dynamic water conditions is developed, so that the biofilm morphology and properties of the microbial sediment cultured by this device are similar to those of nature, thereby making the results of indoor experiments more accurate. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the device;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of partition one, partition two, or partition three.

[0026] 1. Culture tank; 2. Nutrient solution tank; 3. Inlet pipe; 4. Inlet pump; 5. Solenoid valve one; 6. Controller; 7. Partition one; 8. Partition two; 9. Partition three; 10. Buffer zone one; 11. Culture zone; 12. Buffer zone two; 13. Drainage zone; 14. Flow ball; 15. Drain pump; 16. Drain pipe; 17. Solenoid valve two; 18. Sandbox; 19. Support; 20. Water level sensor; 21. Flow rate sensor; 22. Thermometer; 23. Adjustable LED light. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0028] See Figure 1 A device for cultivating microbial sediment at different flow rate levels includes a culture tank 1 and a nutrient solution tank 2.

[0029] The culture tank 1 is equipped with an inlet pipe 3. One end of the inlet pipe 3 is welded and fixed to the culture tank 1 and connected to it. The other end is equipped with an inlet pump 4 through a flange. The outlet end of the inlet pump 4 is connected to the inlet pipe 3. An electromagnetic valve 5 is installed on the inlet pipe 3. The electromagnetic valve 5 is an electromagnetic ball valve. The inlet pump 4 is placed at the bottom inside the nutrient solution tank. The inlet pump 4 is a submersible pump. The inlet end of the inlet pump 4 is below the liquid level of the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 2. It can directly draw the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 2 and enter the culture tank 1 through the inlet pipe 3.

[0030] After the solenoid valve 5 is opened, the person will start the liquid inlet pump 4, which can draw the nutrient solution containing microorganisms in the nutrient solution tank 2 into the culture tank 1; after the solenoid valve 5 is closed and the liquid inlet pipe 3 is closed, the nutrient solution containing microorganisms in the nutrient solution tank 2 cannot enter the culture tank 1.

[0031] The inlet pump 4 is an adjustable flow water pump. Its principle is to change the pump speed via a frequency converter, thereby changing the water flow rate; this is existing technology. The inlet pump 4 is electrically connected to a controller 6, and the solenoid valve 5 is also electrically connected to the controller 6. The controller 6 controls the start and stop of the inlet pump 4 or controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 5.

[0032] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The culture tank 1 is welded and fixed with partitions 7, 8, and 9, which divide the culture tank 1 into four zones, namely buffer zone 10, culture zone 11, buffer zone 2 12, and drainage zone 13. Each of the partitions 7, 8, and 9 has several through holes, which connect the buffer zones 10, 11, 12, and 13 to each other.

[0033] The outlet of the aforementioned inlet pipe 3 is located in buffer zone 10, which contains several slow-flow balls 14 with gaps between them. When water enters buffer zone 10 from the outlet of inlet pipe 3, the weight of the slow-flow balls 14 obstructs the flow, increasing the resistance. The water needs to expend energy to overcome this resistance, thus slowing down the flow rate. This allows the water flowing through baffle 7 into culture zone 11 to flow at a gentler speed, preventing the flow rate in buffer zone 10 from significantly affecting the flow rate in culture zone 11.

[0034] A submersible pump 15 is placed at the bottom of the drainage area 13, with its inlet end below the liquid surface. A drain pipe 16 is installed at the outlet end of the pump 15 via a flange. The end of the drain pipe 16 away from the pump 15 extends into the nutrient solution tank 2, and the drain pipe 16 is connected to the nutrient solution tank 2. The nutrient solution tank 2 is not directly and fixedly connected to the inlet pipe 3 and the drain pipe 16. This is done to facilitate the removal of the nutrient solution tank 2 from the inlet pipe 3 and the drain pipe 16, allowing for easy addition of nutrient solution to the tank.

[0035] A second solenoid valve 17 is installed on the drain pipe 16. The second solenoid valve 17 is an electromagnetic ball valve. The drain pump 15 and the second solenoid valve 17 are also electrically connected to the aforementioned controller 6. The controller 6 controls the start and stop of the drain pump 15 or controls the opening and closing of the second solenoid valve 17. The drain pump 15 is also an adjustable flow pump, with the same specifications as the aforementioned inlet pump 4. The controller can control the rotation speed of the inlet pump 4 and the drain pump 15 to be the same, ensuring that the outlet flow rates of the inlet pump 4 and the drain pump 15 are the same. Therefore, when the inlet pump 4 and the drain pump 15 work simultaneously, the total amount of water in the culture tank 1 remains unchanged.

[0036] Similarly, several flow-slowing balls 14 are also placed in buffer zone 2 12. The flow-slowing balls 14 in buffer zone 2 12 are used to prevent the water flow velocity in drainage zone 13 from affecting the culture zone 11. Because the operation of drainage pump 15 will cause a large disturbance to the water flow velocity in drainage zone 13, the flow-slowing balls 14 in buffer zone 2 12 reduce the disturbance to the water in culture zone 11 caused by the water flow velocity in drainage zone 13, so as to stabilize the water flow velocity in culture zone 11.

[0037] A sandbox 18 is placed on the inner bottom wall of the cultivation area 11. Multiple supports 19 are also fixedly connected to the inner bottom wall of the cultivation area 11. The multiple supports 19 abut against the outer wall of the sandbox 18 to prevent the sandbox 18 from moving freely in the cultivation area 11.

[0038] A water level sensor 20, a flow rate sensor 21, and a thermometer 22 are fixedly installed on the inner wall of the cultivation zone 11. The flow rate sensor 21, water level sensor 20, and thermometer 22 are arranged from low to high. The flow rate sensor 21 is positioned above the sandbox 18. An adjustable LED light 23 is also fixedly installed on one side wall of the cultivation zone 11, positioned above the thermometer 22, with the length of the adjustable LED light 23 extending along... Figure 1 The purpose of this design, with its left-right viewing angle, is to make the light intensity in the culture zone 11 as uniform as possible. A light intensity sensor (not shown) is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the culture zone 11, located above the thermometer 22 and below the adjustable LED light 23.

[0039] The water level sensor 20, flow rate sensor 21, thermometer 22, light intensity sensor and adjustable LED light 23 are all electrically connected to the aforementioned controller 6 and can receive signals monitored by the above components.

[0040] An oxygenation pump is also installed on the inner wall of the nutrient solution tank 2 by bolts. The outlet of the oxygenation pump is located below the nutrient solution level in the nutrient solution tank 2 through a pipe, and the inlet of the oxygenation pump is connected to the atmosphere. The oxygenation pump draws air into the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 2 to supply oxygen to the microorganisms in the nutrient solution.

[0041] The procedure for using this device is as follows:

[0042] Step 1: Construct the device for this embodiment;

[0043] Researchers obtained the culture environment of microbial sediment under natural conditions; the culture environment included water flow velocity, light intensity, temperature, and element content in seawater. The researchers input the obtained culture environment data into the controller.

[0044] Based on the elemental composition of the seawater, researchers prepared a nutrient solution with salinity, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus characteristics identical to those of the seawater. This nutrient solution was stored in nutrient solution tank 2. The researchers added the desired microorganisms to the nutrient solution; currently, the microorganisms used for culturing microbial sediment are mainly marine algae, such as marine diatoms. The researchers turned on the oxygenation pump to prevent the microorganisms from dying due to lack of oxygen.

[0045] Step 2: The experimenters filled the sandbox with clean sand, added purified water until it just covered the clean sand, and after the clean sand in the sandbox was completely wetted, they smoothed the surface of the clean sand.

[0046] Step 3: The experimenter sends signals to the inlet pump 4 and solenoid valve 5 via the controller. The controller activates the inlet pump 4 and opens the solenoid valve 5. The drain pump 15 and solenoid valve 17 do not receive the activation signal from the controller and therefore remain closed. The inlet pump 4 pumps the nutrient solution containing microorganisms from the nutrient solution tank into the culture tank 1, causing the water level in the culture tank 1 to rise continuously.

[0047] Step 4: When the liquid level in culture tank 1 reaches the water level sensor, the water level sensor sends a signal to the controller. After detecting the water level signal, the controller controls the inlet pump 4 and solenoid valve 5 to close. At this time, the liquid level of the nutrient solution containing microorganisms is higher than the surface of the clean sand.

[0048] Simultaneously, the controller also turns on the variable LED lights. Because the experimenters set a corresponding light intensity in the controller based on the natural light intensity obtained in the first step, the controller adjusts the light intensity of the variable LED lights according to the set light intensity until the light intensity sensor reaches the controller's preset light intensity value. After that, the controller stops adjusting the intensity of the variable LED lights and keeps them on. The controller receives temperature data from the thermometer. If the thermometer reading does not match the controller's temperature setting (set by the experimenters from the temperature obtained in the first step), the controller adjusts the air conditioning temperature in the laboratory to match the set temperature. The controller keeps timed for 1-2 days, and the microbial sediment is cultured in still water for 1-2 days.

[0049] Step 5: After the timer in the controller finishes recording for 1-2 days, the controller activates the inlet pump 4, solenoid valve 5, drain pump 15, and solenoid valve 17. The variable LED light maintains the aforementioned illumination intensity and continues to operate. The controller controls the inlet pump 4 and drain pump 15 to rotate at the same speed, so the flow rate entering culture tank 1 equals the flow rate exiting culture tank 1. The total water volume in culture tank 1 remains unchanged. However, due to the change in the rotation speed of inlet pump 4 and drain pump 15, the flow rate within culture tank 1 changes. Since the cross-sectional area through which the water flows remains constant, according to the water velocity formula, the flow velocity of the water in culture tank 1 changes. This achieves the purpose of altering the water flow velocity in culture tank 1.

[0050] Step 6: The controller monitors the flow rate sensor readings. If the flow rate sensor reading does not match the flow rate value set in the controller (the flow rate value set by the experimenter from the water flow rate in Step 1), the controller controls the inlet pump 4 and outlet pump 15 to change their speeds simultaneously and keep them equal until the flow rate sensor reading matches the flow rate value set in the controller. Once the flow rate sensor reading matches the flow rate value set in the controller, the inlet pump 4, solenoid valve 5, outlet pump 15, and solenoid valve 17 remain open, keeping the water in the cultivation area in a flowing state until the controller detects that the cultivation time has been reached, such as after one week. Then, the controller shuts off the inlet pump 4, solenoid valve 5, outlet pump 15, solenoid valve 17, variable LED lights, and oxygenation pump, completing the cultivation of microbial sediment.

[0051] Based on the above-described preferred embodiments of this utility model, and through the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the technical concept of this utility model. The technical scope of this utility model is not limited to the contents of the specification, but must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A device for culturing microbial sludge at different flow rate levels, characterized in that, It comprises a culture jar (1) and a nutrient solution jar (2); The culture jar (1) is provided with an inlet pipe (3), one end of which is fixedly connected with the culture jar (1) and communicates with the culture jar (1), and the other end is provided with an inlet pump (4), the water outlet end of the inlet pump (4) communicates with the inlet pipe (3); the inlet pipe (3) is provided with an electromagnetic valve (5); the inlet pump (4) is placed at the bottom of the nutrient solution jar (2), and the water inlet end of the inlet pump (4) is below the liquid level of the nutrient solution jar (2); It also comprises a controller (6), the inlet pump (4) and the electromagnetic valve (5) are electrically connected with the controller (6); The culture jar (1) is provided with a drainage pump (15), which is placed at the bottom of the culture jar (1), and the water outlet end of the drainage pump (15) is provided with a drainage pipe (16), which extends into the nutrient solution jar (2); the drainage pipe (16) is provided with an electromagnetic valve (17); The drainage pump (15) and the electromagnetic valve (17) are electrically connected with the controller (6); the inlet pump (4) and the drainage pump (15) are adjustable flow pumps; The culture jar (1) is provided with a water level sensor (20), a flow rate sensor (21) and a thermometer (22); the height of the flow rate sensor (21), the water level sensor (20) and the thermometer (22) is set from low to high; the culture jar (1) is provided with a sand box (18), and the flow rate sensor (21) is above the sand box (18); the inner side wall of the culture jar (1) is also provided with an adjustable LED lamp (23), which is above the thermometer (22), and the inner side wall of the culture jar (1) is also provided with a light intensity sensor; The light intensity sensor, the water level sensor (20), the flow rate sensor (21), the thermometer (22) and the adjustable LED lamp (23) are electrically connected with the controller (6).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein, The culture jar (1) is fixedly connected with a partition one (7), a partition two (8) and a partition three (9), which divide the culture jar (1) into a buffer zone one (10), a culture zone (11), a buffer zone two (12) and a drainage zone (13) in sequence, the partition one (7), the partition two (8) and the partition three (9) are all provided with through holes, and the buffer zone one (10), the culture zone (11), the buffer zone two (12) and the drainage zone (13) communicate through the through holes on the partition one (7), the partition two (8) and the partition three (9); the buffer zone one (10) and the buffer zone two (12) are both provided with a plurality of buffer balls (14); the water outlet of the inlet pipe (3) is located in the buffer zone one (10), and the drainage pump (15) is adsorbed at the bottom of the drainage zone (13); the sand box (18), the light intensity sensor, the water level sensor (20), the flow rate sensor (21), the thermometer (22) and the adjustable LED lamp (23) are all located in the culture zone (11).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein, The specifications of the drainage pump (15) and the inlet pump (4) are the same, which means that the flow rates of the drainage pump (15) and the inlet pump (4) are equal under the condition that the rotation speeds of the drainage pump (15) and the inlet pump (4) are the same.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein, The oxygenation pump is installed in the nutrient solution tank (2), and the air outlet end of the oxygenation pump is below the liquid level of the nutrient solution in the tank (2) through a pipeline, and the air inlet end of the oxygenation pump is in communication with the atmosphere.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein, The inner bottom wall of the culture area (11) is fixed with a plurality of supports (19) for fixing the sand box (18), and the plurality of supports (19) are in close contact with the peripheral outer wall of the sand box (18).

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