Air distribution assembly and fermentation device

Abstract

The utility model provides an air distribution assembly and a fermentation device, and relates to the technical field of fermentation. The air distribution assembly comprises a guide cylinder and an air distributor, wherein the guide cylinder is used for accommodating fermentation liquor; the air distributor is at least partially arranged in the guide cylinder, the air distributor is provided with an air outlet assembly, the air outlet assembly comprises an exhaust pipe, one end of the exhaust pipe is communicated with the air distributor, the other end of the exhaust pipe is provided with a nozzle, and the nozzle is used for spraying air into the guide cylinder, so that the air and the fermentation liquor are mixed and can move in the first direction; wherein the nozzle is at least partially provided with a microporous membrane; wherein the first direction is the extension direction of the guide cylinder. The air and the fermentation liquid integrally move along the inner wall of the flow guide cylinder, and the flow guide cylinder is used for planning a movement path and playing a role in guiding, so that primary emulsification and mixing are realized. The guide cylinder can prevent air jetted by the air outlet assembly from being directly dispersed in the whole fermentation tank, fermentation dissolved oxygen is enhanced, the air utilization rate is increased, and energy waste is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to fermentation technical field in general, specifically, relate to air distribution assembly and fermentation device. BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, in the process of producing dibasic acid, the fermentation device includes fermentation reaction kettle, stirring mechanism and air distributor, the air distributor is arranged in the fermentation reaction kettle, and is used for introducing air into the fermentation reaction kettle, but the traditional air distributor has low oxygen dissolving level in the fermentation process, low oxygen utilization rate, influences fermentation whole course biological metabolism oxygen supply capacity, and waste air, causes the energy waste of biological fermentation. Meanwhile, in order to promote the full mixing of fermentation system and oxygen, enhances the oxygen dissolving level of fermentation, and the stirring mechanism needs to rotate in the fermentation reaction kettle and carries out aerobic stirring, but the traditional stirring mechanism has high configuration power, leading to relatively high production cost. UTILITY MODEL CONTENT

[0003] The air distribution assembly and fermentation device provided by the utility model enhance fermentation oxygen dissolving, improve air utilization rate, can reduce the power load of stirring structure simultaneously, save power consumption, and reduce production cost.

[0004] According to the first aspect of the utility model, an air distribution assembly is provided, which comprises:

[0005] A flow guide cylinder is used for containing fermentation liquid.

[0006] An air distributor is at least partially arranged in the flow guide cylinder, and the air distributor is provided with an air outlet assembly, the air outlet assembly comprises an air outlet pipe, one end of the air outlet pipe is communicated with the air distributor, the other end of the air outlet pipe is provided with a nozzle, the nozzle is used for spraying air into the flow guide cylinder, so that the air and the fermentation liquid are mixed and can move along a first direction.

[0007] The nozzle has at least part of a microporous membrane.

[0008] The first direction is the extension direction of the flow guide cylinder.

[0009] In some embodiments, the nozzle is at least one of spherical, cylindrical and cuboid.

[0010] The cross-sectional area of the air outlet pipe towards the air distributor is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the air outlet pipe away from the air distributor, and / or the thickness of the microporous membrane is 0.5mm-20mm.

[0011] The microporous membrane is provided with micropores, and the pore size of the micropores is 1um-1000um.

[0012] In some embodiments, the air outlet assembly further includes:

[0013] A receiving element is fitted onto the outside of the nozzle, and the receiving element is provided with a through hole.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the housing on the side facing the air distributor is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the housing on the side away from the air distributor;

[0015] And / or, along the first direction and away from the air distributor, the cross-sectional area of ​​the housing gradually decreases;

[0016] And / or, the diameter of the through hole is X, where 0cm < X ≤ 5cm.

[0017] In some embodiments, the air distributor includes:

[0018] An air distribution pipe is disposed inside the guide tube, and the air outlet assembly is disposed in the air distribution pipe;

[0019] The air distribution pipe has an annular structure, and the air distribution pipe and the guide tube are coaxially arranged.

[0020] In some embodiments, there are multiple air distribution tubes, and the multiple air distribution tubes are arranged along the first direction;

[0021] And / or, the number of the air distribution pipes is multiple, and the projections of the multiple air distribution pipes relative to the reference plane do not coincide; wherein, the reference plane is perpendicular to the first direction;

[0022] And / or, the number of the air distribution tubes is multiple, and along the first direction, the inner diameter of the multiple air distribution tubes gradually increases or decreases.

[0023] In some embodiments, the air distributor further includes an air inlet pipe, one end of which is connected to an air compressor and the other end of which is connected to the air distribution pipe;

[0024] And / or, the air distributor further includes an air inlet pipe, which is connected to the air distribution pipe, and a control valve is provided on the air inlet pipe for controlling the opening and closing of the air inlet pipe.

[0025] In some embodiments, along the first direction, the bottom of the guide tube is provided with an inlet and the top of the guide tube is provided with an outlet, and the fermentation liquid enters the guide tube through the inlet and flows out through the outlet;

[0026] The guide tube is at least partially conical in shape, with the smaller end of the conical structure facing the outlet, or the outlet being located at the smaller end of the conical structure.

[0027] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a fermentation apparatus, comprising:

[0028] A fermenter, wherein the fermenter is provided with a feed inlet and a discharge outlet;

[0029] The stirring assembly is at least partially rotatably disposed within the fermenter;

[0030] In the aforementioned air distribution assembly, along the first direction, the guide tube of the air distribution assembly is disposed below the stirring assembly, and the air distributor of the air distribution assembly is at least partially disposed inside the guide tube.

[0031] In some embodiments, the fermentation apparatus further includes:

[0032] A connector is provided inside the fermenter, with one end of the connector connected to the inner wall of the fermenter and the other end connected to the guide tube;

[0033] And / or, the fermentation apparatus further includes:

[0034] A support member is disposed inside the fermenter and passes through the guide tube. One end of the support member is connected to the inner wall of the fermenter, and the other end is connected to the air distributor.

[0035] In some embodiments, the stirring assembly includes:

[0036] A stirring paddle is provided inside the fermentation tank;

[0037] A rotary drive source is provided with an output shaft at its output end. The output shaft passes through the stirring paddle, and the rotary drive source drives the stirring paddle to rotate through the output shaft.

[0038] The fermentation device also includes a bearing, which is sleeved on the outside of the output shaft and disposed between the output shaft and the guide tube. The output shaft passes through the inner ring of the bearing, and the outer ring of the bearing is connected to the guide tube.

[0039] In some embodiments, the fermentation apparatus further includes:

[0040] A heat exchanger is installed inside the fermenter;

[0041] And / or, the fermentation apparatus further includes:

[0042] A baffle is installed inside the fermentation tank, and the baffle is provided with perforations.

[0043] One embodiment of this utility model has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0044] The air distribution component provided in this embodiment has a relatively small internal space in the guide tube, which can confine the fermentation liquid within a small space. The guide tube covers at least part of the outside of the air distributor. When the air outlet component of the air distributor sprays air into the guide tube, the microporous membrane ensures that the air bubbles sprayed from the air outlet component are small and uniform, which can concentrate and fully mix with the fermentation liquid in the guide tube, increasing the gas-liquid contact area. Due to the high pressure of the sprayed air, the high-pressure air can drive the fermentation liquid to move upward in the first direction, that is, the air and fermentation liquid move together along the inner wall of the guide tube. The guide tube is used to plan the movement path and plays a guiding role, realizing one-time emulsification and mixing. The guide tube can prevent the air sprayed by the air outlet component from being directly dispersed in the entire fermentation tank, enhance the dissolved oxygen during fermentation, improve air utilization, and reduce energy waste.

[0045] The fermentation apparatus provided in this embodiment, guided by the flow guide tube, allows air and fermentation broth to move upwards in a first direction into the fermentation tank. The stirring component agitates the air and fermentation broth, breaking up the air into bubbles and dispersing them within the broth, achieving secondary shearing and mixing, further improving mass and oxygen transfer. After rising to a certain height in the fermentation tank along the first direction, the fermentation broth, under its own gravity, falls back to the bottom of the fermentation tank and re-enters the flow guide tube, achieving another round of emulsification and mixing. Through the combined action of the air distributor, flow guide tube, and stirring component, the fermentation broth circulates, achieving multiple mixing of the fermentation broth and air, further increasing the dissolved oxygen content in the fermentation tank and enhancing the oxygen supply capacity for biological metabolism throughout the fermentation process.

[0046] In addition, compared to the traditional method that requires a high-power stirring structure to achieve full mixing of air and fermentation broth, the combination of air distributor and guide tube can achieve emulsification and mixing in one step first, thereby reducing the power load of the stirring structure, saving electricity, and reducing production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0047] To better understand this invention, reference can be made to the embodiments shown in the following drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and related elements may be omitted to emphasize and clearly illustrate the technical features of this invention. Furthermore, related elements or components may have different arrangements as known in the art. Additionally, in the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar components in various figures. The above and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent by describing exemplary embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0048] in:

[0049] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the fermentation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0050] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of the air distribution component and the fermentation tank in the fermentation device of Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0051] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the gas outlet component in the fermentation apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0052] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the gas outlet component in the fermentation apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0053] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the fermentation apparatus of Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0054] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0055] 1. Flow guide tube; 2. Air distributor; 3. Fermentation tank; 4. Stirring assembly; 5. Heat exchanger; 7. Connecting parts; 8. Supporting parts; 9. Baffle; 10. Bearing;

[0056] 11. Import; 12. Export; 13. Upper end; 14. Lower end;

[0057] 20. Exhaust assembly; 201. Exhaust pipe; 202. Nozzle; 2021. Micro-orifice; 203. Receiving element; 2031. Through hole;

[0058] 21. Air distribution pipe; 22. Air intake pipe; 221. Control valve;

[0059] 31. Feed inlet; 32. Discharge outlet; 33. Replenishment outlet;

[0060] 41. Agitator; 42. Rotary drive source; 43. Output shaft;

[0061] 91. Via. Detailed Implementation

[0062] The technical solutions of the exemplary embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Therefore, it should be understood that various modifications and changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0063] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more; and the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In particular, references to "the / described" object or "an" object are also intended to indicate one of a possible plurality of such objects.

[0064] Unless otherwise specified or stated, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, an electrical connection, or a signal connection; "connection" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0065] Furthermore, in the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," and "outer" described in the exemplary embodiments of this utility model are used to describe the angles shown in the accompanying drawings and should not be construed as limiting the exemplary embodiments of this utility model. It should also be understood that, in the context, when an element or feature is mentioned as being "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" of another element (one or more), it can be directly connected to the other element (one or more) "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer," or it can be indirectly connected to the other element (one or more) "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" through an intermediate element.

[0066] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.

[0067] This embodiment provides a fermentation apparatus, such as... Figure 1As shown, the fermentation apparatus includes a fermenter 3, a stirring assembly 4, and an air distribution assembly. The fermenter 3 is equipped with an inlet 31, an outlet 32, and a feed inlet 33. The inlet 31 is used to introduce the fermentation substrate, alkanes, and fermentation cells into the fermenter 3. The feed inlet 33 is used to introduce acidic / alkaline substances into the fermenter 3. The mixture system including the fermentation substrate, alkanes, fermentation cells, and acidic / alkaline substances is called the fermentation broth. The outlet 32 ​​is used to discharge the fermentation broth after fermentation is complete. The air distribution assembly is located inside the fermenter 3 and is used to introduce air into the fermenter 3. The stirring assembly 4 is at least partially rotatable inside the fermenter 3 and is used to stir the fermentation broth and air inside the fermenter 3.

[0068] The fermenter 3 has a cylindrical or cuboid shape. For example, the fermenter 3 has a cylindrical shape. The axial direction of the fermenter 3 is defined as the first direction, denoted by D1, and the radial direction of the fermenter 3 is defined as the second direction, denoted by D2. The first and second directions are perpendicular. Specifically, the feed inlet 31 is located at the top of the fermenter 3 along the first direction, and the discharge outlet 32 ​​is located at the bottom of the fermenter 3 along the first direction, so that the fermentation liquid can be discharged through the discharge outlet 32 ​​under its own gravity.

[0069] For example, the fermentation substrate alkane, fermentation cells and acidic / alkaline substances are introduced into the feed inlet 31 and feed outlet 33, and air is introduced into the fermentation tank 3 through the air distribution component. The mixing system including the fermentation substrate alkane, fermentation cells, acidic / alkaline substances and air is stirred by the stirring component 4 to fully mix the four phases of gas, solid, liquid and gas, which is conducive to full fermentation. After the fermentation is completed, the fermentation liquid is discharged from the discharge outlet 32 ​​to enter the next process for purification.

[0070] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the stirring assembly 4 includes a stirring paddle 41 and a rotary drive source 42. The stirring paddle 41 is disposed inside the fermentation tank 3. The rotary drive source 42 can be a motor. The rotary drive source 42 is disposed on the fermentation tank 3. The output end of the rotary drive source 42 is provided with an output shaft 43. The output shaft 43 extends into the interior of the fermentation tank 3 and passes through the stirring paddle 41. The rotary drive source 42 drives the stirring paddle 41 to rotate relative to the fermentation tank 3 through the output shaft 43, so that the stirring paddle 41 stirs the fermentation liquid and achieves full mixing of the fermentation liquid and air.

[0071] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the fermentation device also includes a heat exchanger 5, which is installed inside the fermentation tank 3. By controlling the heat exchanger 5, the temperature inside the fermentation tank 3 can be adjusted to improve the fermentation reaction effect and reaction efficiency.

[0072] Specifically, the air distribution component provided in this embodiment includes an air distributor 2, which is disposed inside the fermentation tank 3 and located below the stirring paddle 41 along the first direction. The air distributor 2 can uniformly deliver air into the fermentation tank 3. However, during the fermentation process, the dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation tank 3 is relatively low, affecting the oxygen supply capacity of biological metabolism throughout the fermentation process, and the air utilization rate is relatively low, resulting in wasted air and energy waste during the biological fermentation process.

[0073] Therefore, such as Figures 1-2 As shown, the air distribution assembly provided in this embodiment also includes a guide tube 1, which is disposed below the stirring assembly 4. The guide tube 1 is used to contain and guide the fermentation liquid, and the air distributor 2 is at least partially disposed inside the guide tube 1. The air distributor 2 is provided with an air outlet assembly 20, which is used to spray air into the guide tube 1, so that the air and fermentation liquid are mixed and can move in a first direction.

[0074] The structure of at least part of the guide tube 1 can be cylindrical, conical, cuboid, etc., and the size of the guide tube 1 is slightly smaller than the size of the fermenter 3. The extension direction of the guide tube 1 is the first direction. If the guide tube 1 has an axisymmetric structure, the axial direction of the guide tube 1 can also be called the first direction.

[0075] Compared to the size of the fermentation tank 3, the internal space of the air distribution component provided in this embodiment is relatively small. The air distribution component 1 can confine the fermentation liquid within a smaller space. The air distribution component 1 covers at least part of the outside of the air distributor 2. When the air outlet component 20 of the air distributor 2 sprays air into the air distribution component 1, the air sprayed from the air outlet component 20 can be concentrated and fully mixed with the fermentation liquid in the air distribution component 1. Due to the high air pressure, the high-pressure air can drive the fermentation liquid to move upward in the first direction, that is, the air and the fermentation liquid move together along the inner wall of the air distribution component 1. The air distribution component 1 is used to plan the movement path and plays a guiding role, realizing one-time emulsification and mixing. The air distribution component 1 can prevent the air sprayed by the air outlet component 20 from being directly dispersed in the entire fermentation tank 3, enhance the dissolved oxygen in fermentation, improve air utilization, and reduce energy waste.

[0076] Guided by the flow guide tube 1, air and fermentation broth move upwards in the first direction into the fermentation tank 3. The stirring component 4 stirs the air and fermentation broth, breaking up the air into bubbles and dispersing them in the fermentation broth, achieving secondary shearing and mixing, further improving mass and oxygen transfer. After rising to a certain height in the fermentation tank 3 along the first direction, the fermentation broth falls back to the bottom of the fermentation tank 3 under its own gravity and re-enters the flow guide tube 1, achieving emulsification and mixing once more. Through the combined action of the air distributor 2, the flow guide tube 1, and the stirring component 4, the fermentation broth is circulated, achieving multiple mixing of the fermentation broth and air, further increasing the dissolved oxygen content in the fermentation tank 3 and improving the oxygen supply capacity for biological metabolism during fermentation.

[0077] Specifically, such as Figures 1-2 As shown, the guide tube 1 has an open structure at both ends. For example, along the first direction, the bottom of the guide tube 1 is provided with an inlet 11 and the top of the guide tube 1 is provided with an outlet 12. The fermentation liquid enters the guide tube 1 through the inlet 11 and flows out through the outlet 12. The guide tube 1 plays a guiding role.

[0078] The guide tube 1 and the fermenter 3 are coaxially arranged. Specifically, the fermenter 3 has a first channel and a second channel. The projection of the first channel relative to the reference plane coincides with the projection of the guide tube 1 relative to the reference plane, while the projection of the second channel relative to the reference plane does not coincide with the projection of the guide tube 1 relative to the reference plane. The reference plane is perpendicular to the first direction. It can be understood that the first channel is similar to a cylindrical structure, and the second channel is similar to a ring structure, with the second channel surrounding the first channel.

[0079] With this configuration, the fermentation liquid and air flowing out from the outlet 12 of the guide tube 1 enter the first channel and rise continuously in the first direction, and then fall in the first direction through the second channel. The flow directions of the fermentation liquid in the first channel and the second channel are opposite, and the two channels are independent and do not affect the flow of the fermentation liquid.

[0080] In one embodiment, the guide tube 1 is at least partially conical, with the smaller end of the conical structure facing the outlet 12, or the outlet 12 is located at the smaller end of the conical structure.

[0081] Exemplarily, the guide tube 1 includes an upper end portion 13 and a lower end portion 14, which are arranged along a first direction and communicate with each other. The upper end portion 13 is disposed on the side of the lower end portion 14 along the first direction and facing the stirring assembly 4. The lower end portion 14 has a cylindrical structure, and the upper end portion 13 has a conical structure, making the entire guide tube 1 resemble a bullet-shaped structure. The outlet 12 is disposed on the side of the upper end portion 13 away from the lower end portion 14. The inner wall of the upper end portion 13 serves as a guide to collect the fermentation liquid and air toward the outlet 12.

[0082] With this configuration, the diameter of the lower end 14 is large, while the diameter of the upper end 13 gradually decreases, causing the air ejected from the air outlet component 20 to become thinner and the air flow rate to gradually increase. This allows the ejected air to quickly blow the entire fermentation liquid upwards along the first direction, facilitating the rapid entry of air and fermentation liquid into the fermentation tank 3 for mixing and reaction.

[0083] It is understood that in other embodiments, the guide tube 1 is a frustum-shaped structure, that is, both the upper end 13 and the lower end 14 of the guide tube 1 are conical structures, and the diameter of the guide tube 1 gradually decreases along the first direction and toward the stirring assembly 4. Of course, the guide tube 1 can also be conical in the middle or bottom position along the first direction, as long as it can increase the air flow rate, it is within the protection scope of this embodiment.

[0084] Among them, such as Figure 1 As shown, the fermentation apparatus also includes a connector 7, which is disposed inside the fermentation tank 3. One end of the connector 7 is connected to the inner wall of the fermentation tank 3, and the other end is connected to the guide tube 1. The connector 7 serves to fix the guide tube 1, preventing the guide tube 1 from moving along the first direction with the fermentation liquid.

[0085] In this design, a certain distance exists between the guide tube 1 and the stirring paddle 41 located at the bottom along the first direction in the stirring assembly 4, to prevent the stirring paddle 41 from impacting the guide tube 1 during stirring. It is understood that in some other embodiments, the stirring paddle 41 located at the bottom along the first direction in the stirring assembly 4 can also extend into the guide tube 1, so that the stirring assembly 4 can not only stir the fermentation liquid in the fermentation tank 3, but also simultaneously stir the fermentation liquid in the guide tube 1, improving emulsification and mixing effects. Furthermore, the stirring of both components in the fermentation tank 3 and the guide tube 1 can be achieved using a single rotary drive source 42, saving production costs.

[0086] In one embodiment, such as Figures 1-2 As shown, the air distributor 2 includes an air distribution pipe 21, which is disposed inside the guide tube 1. The air outlet assembly 20 is disposed in the air distribution pipe 21. The air distribution pipe 21 has an annular structure, which is beneficial for the air to be dispersed into the guide tube 1 along the circumference of the air distribution pipe 21.

[0087] For example, the air distribution pipe 21 and the guide tube 1 are arranged coaxially. That is, the air distribution pipe 21 is centered relative to the guide tube 1, which further ensures the uniformity of air sprayed into the guide tube 1.

[0088] For example, the fermentation apparatus further includes a support member 8, which is disposed inside the fermentation tank 3 and passes through the guide tube 1. One end of the support member 8 along the first direction is connected to the inner wall of the fermentation tank 3, and the other end is connected to the air distribution pipe 21 of the air distributor 2. The support member 8 serves to support and fix the air distributor 2, preventing the air distribution pipe 21 from moving along the first direction with the fermentation liquid.

[0089] The number of air distribution pipes 21 is at least one, and at least one air distribution pipe 21 is located at the bottom of the fermenter 3 along the first direction and is disposed inside the guide tube 1. When there are multiple air distribution pipes 21, the multiple air distribution pipes 21 are arranged along the first direction, which is beneficial for the air to be dispersed into the guide tube 1 along the first direction.

[0090] Specifically, the projections of the multiple air distribution pipes 21 relative to the reference plane do not coincide. With this arrangement, the multiple air distribution pipes 21 are staggered, and the diameters of the multiple air distribution pipes 21 are all different. This avoids the upper air distribution pipe 21 blocking the air ejected by the air outlet component 20 corresponding to the lower air distribution pipe 21, which is conducive to the uniform mixing of air and fermentation liquid.

[0091] For example, there are multiple air distribution pipes 21. Along the first direction, the inner diameter of the multiple air distribution pipes 21 gradually increases or decreases, so that the air outlet components 20 corresponding to the two adjacent layers of air distribution pipes 21 can be staggered to reduce the obstruction of air jet.

[0092] For example, there are three air distribution pipes 21. Along the first direction and towards the stirring component 4, the inner diameter of the three air distribution pipes 21 gradually increases, that is, the three air distribution pipes 21 are arranged in a small, medium and large manner from bottom to top; the inner diameter of the three air distribution pipes 21 gradually decreases, that is, the three air distribution pipes 21 are arranged in a large, medium and small manner from bottom to top.

[0093] In one embodiment, such as Figures 1-2 As shown, the air distributor 2 also includes an air inlet pipe 22, one end of which is connected to an air compressor (not shown in the figure), and the other end is connected to an air distribution pipe 21. In this way, the air first enters the air compressor for compression, for example, to obtain compressed air with a pressure of 0.3 MPa or higher. Then, the compressed air enters the air distribution pipe 21 through the air inlet pipe 22. Since the compressed air has a certain pressure, it is beneficial for the air outlet component 20 to spray air into the guide tube 1 and diffuse it, while simultaneously pushing the fermentation liquid upward.

[0094] The intake pipe 22 is equipped with a control valve 221, which is used to control the opening and closing of the intake pipe 22, thereby controlling the amount of air intake.

[0095] It is understood that there is at least one air inlet pipe 22. For example, when there is only one air inlet pipe 22, it is connected to at least one air distribution pipe 21. The air inlet pipe 22 is the main ventilation pipe, and the air entering from the air inlet pipe 22 is delivered to each air distribution pipe 21. When there are multiple air inlet pipes 22, multiple air inlet pipes 22 and multiple air distribution pipes 21 are correspondingly set and connected. The air distributor 2 adopts this multi-layer design. According to the different oxygen requirements of different stages of microbial fermentation, the control valves 221 of one or more air distributors 2 are opened, and air of different flow rates is injected through the air outlet component 20 to provide sufficient oxygen for the microorganisms at different stages and for the cells to absorb and utilize.

[0096] The number of air outlet components 20 is at least one. When there are multiple air outlet components 20, they are arranged circumferentially on the air distribution pipe 21 to improve the uniformity of air distribution within the guide tube 1. It is understood that this embodiment does not limit the number of air outlet components 20; the number of air outlet components 20 and the spacing between adjacent air outlet components 20 can be set according to actual usage needs.

[0097] Specifically, such as Figures 2-4 As shown, the air outlet assembly 20 includes an exhaust pipe 201. One end of the exhaust pipe 201 is connected to the air distributor 2, and the other end is provided with a nozzle 202, so that the air in the air distribution pipe 21 is delivered to the nozzle 202 through the exhaust pipe 201 and sprayed into the guide tube 1 by the nozzle 202.

[0098] For example, the exhaust pipe 201 is disposed on the side of the air distribution pipe 21 along the first direction and toward the stirring assembly 4. The exhaust pipe 201 can guide the air upward along the first direction, so that the nozzle 202 sprays air upward along the first direction.

[0099] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the exhaust pipe 201 can be a cylindrical structure, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust pipe 201 is the same at all positions.

[0100] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, the exhaust pipe 201 can also be a variable cross-section structure. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust pipe 201 facing the air distributor 2 is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust pipe 201 away from the air distributor 2. With this configuration, the diameter of the lower part of the exhaust pipe 201 is greater than the diameter of the lower part of the exhaust pipe 201, causing the air output from the exhaust pipe 201 to become thinner and the air velocity to gradually increase. This allows the ejected air to quickly blow the fermentation liquid upwards along the first direction, which is beneficial for the air and fermentation liquid to quickly enter the fermentation tank 3 for mixing and reaction.

[0101] The nozzle 202 is at least one of a spherical, cylindrical, or cuboid shape. This configuration gives the nozzle 202 a circumferential surface, increasing the range of angles at which the nozzle 202 ejects air.

[0102] The nozzle 202 has at least a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane is a filter or dispersing material with a microporous structure, and the material of the microporous membrane can be selected from at least one of the following: metal material, polymer material, and ceramic material.

[0103] Microporous membranes disperse air into tiny bubbles, which remain in the fermentation broth longer, increasing the gas-liquid contact area and improving dissolved oxygen and oxygen transfer efficiency. Furthermore, the microporous membrane generates these tiny bubbles, allowing oxygen to be more evenly distributed throughout the fermentation broth, reducing oxygen waste, improving oxygen utilization, promoting cell metabolism, and shortening fermentation time. Simultaneously, under pressure, the instantaneous impact force of air is converted into kinetic energy and rapidly released through the microporous membrane, propelling the fermentation broth upwards and enhancing mixing, thus achieving gas-liquid mixing and emulsification. This optimized oxygenation and mixing reduces the power requirements of the stirring component 4, lowering energy consumption and saving production costs.

[0104] Because thinner microporous membranes produce smaller and more uniform bubbles, resulting in higher oxygen dissolution efficiency, but may reduce strength and pressure resistance; conversely, thicker microporous membranes produce larger bubbles and stronger impact force. Therefore, the microporous membrane provided in this embodiment has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 20 mm, which not only generates tiny and uniform bubbles and achieves relatively high oxygen dissolution efficiency, but also meets certain strength and pressure resistance requirements.

[0105] Specifically, the microporous membrane is equipped with micropores 2021, with a pore size ranging from 1µm to 1000µm. This configuration results in relatively small pore sizes for the micropores, generating tiny bubbles. The finer and more uniform the bubbles, the larger the gas-liquid contact area, leading to higher oxygen dissolution efficiency, which is suitable for fermentation stages with high oxygen demand. However, the pore size of the micropores 2021 is not too small to avoid membrane clogging.

[0106] If the fermentation broth rises too rapidly in the first direction within the guide tube 1, the contact time between the fermentation broth and the air ejected from the nozzle 202 may be too short, resulting in insufficient mixing. Therefore, as follows... Figures 3-4 As shown, the air outlet assembly 20 also includes a receiving member 203, which is sleeved on the outside of the nozzle 202 and has a through hole 2031.

[0107] Specifically, the container 203 has a receiving cavity. When the fermentation liquid approaches the container 203 along the first direction in the guide tube 1, the fermentation liquid is first placed in the receiving cavity, which serves to block and contain the fermentation liquid. Since the nozzle 202 is located in the receiving cavity, the air ejected from the nozzle 202 can directly contact the fermentation liquid in the receiving cavity, increasing the contact time between the air and the fermentation liquid and improving the thoroughness of mixing. Then, the air blown out by the nozzle 202 can propel the fermentation liquid through the through hole 2031 into the guide tube 1. According to the pressure difference change, the upper fermentation liquid in the guide tube 1 can move upward along the first direction as a whole, and the bubbles are evenly diffused in the fermentation liquid to achieve one emulsification and mixing in the guide tube 1.

[0108] Specifically, the cross-sectional area of ​​the container 203 facing the air distributor 2 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the container 203 away from the air distributor 2. That is, the bottom opening of the container 203 along the first direction is relatively large, which is conducive to the collection of more fermentation liquid into the container cavity.

[0109] For example, along the first direction and away from the air distributor 2, the cross-sectional area of ​​the container 203 gradually decreases, that is, the container 203 has a mushroom-shaped or bomb-shaped structure. With this configuration, under the guidance of the inner wall of the container 203, the flow rate of the air ejected from the nozzle 202 gradually increases, so that the air can quickly blow the fermentation liquid out of the through hole 2031, which is conducive to the rapid entry of air and fermentation liquid into the guide tube 1 to achieve primary emulsification and mixing, and then quickly enter the fermentation tank 3 for mixing reaction.

[0110] In one embodiment, the diameter of the through hole 2031 is X, where 0cm < X ≤ 5cm. For example, the diameter of the through hole 2031 can be selected as 0.5cm, 1cm, 2cm, 5cm, etc.

[0111] In this embodiment, by fitting a receiving element 203 around the nozzle 202, the fermentation liquid in the guide tube 1 is first placed in the receiving element 203. The instantaneous impact force of the air ejected from the nozzle 202 is converted into kinetic energy and quickly dispersed out of the microporous membrane to contact the fermentation liquid in the receiving element 203, increasing the contact time between the air and the fermentation liquid. At the same time, the fermentation liquid in the receiving element 203 is blown outward. Subsequently, under the guidance of the guide tube 1, the fermentation liquid is blown upward along the first direction. The setting of the receiving element 203 can increase the contact time between the fermentation liquid and the air, further improve the mixing of air and fermentation liquid, improve the effect of primary emulsification and mixing, and thus further enhance the dissolved oxygen level of fermentation.

[0112] Example 2

[0113] This embodiment is similar to Embodiment 1, except for the detailed structure inside fermenter 3.

[0114] likeFigure 5 As shown, the fermentation device provided in this embodiment also includes a bearing 10, which is sleeved on the outside of the output shaft 43 and disposed between the output shaft 43 and the guide cylinder 1, thereby improving the smoothness of the rotation of the output shaft 43.

[0115] The output shaft 43 passes through the inner ring of the bearing 10, and the outer ring of the bearing 10 is connected to the guide tube 1. With this configuration, when the drive output source drives the stirring paddle 41 to rotate through the output shaft 43, the guide tube 1 remains stationary, which does not affect the movement of the fermentation liquid along the first direction. Furthermore, the lower end of the output shaft 43 along the first direction can be supported by the guide tube 1, ensuring the stability of the stirring paddle 41 during the rotation and stirring process.

[0116] In one embodiment, the fermentation apparatus further includes a baffle 9, which is disposed inside the fermentation tank 3. The baffle 9 can impact the fermentation liquid, causing vigorous agitation of the fermentation liquid. The baffle 9 is provided with through holes 91, which can better disperse air bubbles in the fermentation liquid, increase the contact area between air bubbles and fermentation liquid, and further increase the dissolved oxygen content of the fermentation liquid.

[0117] It should be noted that the embodiments of this utility model are merely one example of the principles employed by the present utility model, as shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the principles of this utility model are not limited to any details or components of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings or described in the specification.

[0118] It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the detailed structure and arrangement of the components described herein. This invention can have other embodiments and can be implemented and performed in various ways. The foregoing variations and modifications fall within the scope of this invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more individual features mentioned or apparent in the text and / or drawings. All these different combinations constitute multiple alternative aspects of this invention. The embodiments described in this specification illustrate the best known mode for implementing this invention and will enable those skilled in the art to utilize this invention.

[0119] Other embodiments of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The present invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and exemplary embodiments are to be considered as exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the appended claims.

[0120] It should be understood that this utility model is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of protection of this utility model is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air distribution assembly, characterized by, The application relates to a fermentation device. The device comprises: a draft tube for containing a fermentation liquid; an air distributor arranged at least partially in the draft tube, the air distributor being provided with an air outlet assembly, the air outlet assembly comprising an air outlet pipe, one end of the air outlet pipe being in communication with the air distributor, and the other end of the air outlet pipe being provided with a nozzle, the nozzle being used for spraying air into the draft tube, so that the air and the fermentation liquid are mixed and can move in a first direction; wherein the nozzle at least partially has a microporous membrane; 2. The air distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein, wherein the first direction is the extension direction of the draft tube. The nozzle is at least one of a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape and a cuboid shape; and / or, the cross-sectional area of the air outlet pipe towards the air distributor is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the air outlet pipe away from the air distributor; and / or, the thickness of the microporous membrane is 0.5mm-20mm; 3. The air distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein, and / or, the microporous membrane is provided with micropores, and the pore diameter of the micropores is 1um-1000um. The air outlet assembly further comprises:

4. The air distribution assembly of claim 3, wherein, a containing member sleeved on the outside of the nozzle, the containing member being provided with a through hole. The cross-sectional area of the containing member towards the air distributor is less than the cross-sectional area of the containing member away from the air distributor; and / or, the cross-sectional area of the containing member gradually decreases in the first direction and away from the air distributor; 5. The air distribution assembly of any of claims 1-4, wherein, and / or, the pore diameter of the through hole is X, wherein 0cmX<5cm. The air distributor comprises: an air distribution pipe arranged in the draft tube, the air outlet assembly being arranged in the air distribution pipe; 6. The air distribution assembly of claim 5, wherein, wherein the air distribution pipe is in a ring structure, and the air distribution pipe and the draft tube are coaxially arranged. The number of the air distribution pipes is multiple, and the multiple air distribution pipes are arranged in the first direction; and / or, the number of the air distribution pipes is multiple, and the projections of the multiple air distribution pipes on a reference plane do not coincide; wherein the reference plane is perpendicular to the first direction; 7. The air distribution assembly of claim 5, wherein, and / or, the number of the air distribution pipes is multiple, and the inner diameters of the multiple air distribution pipes gradually increase or decrease in the first direction. The air distributor further comprises an air inlet pipe, one end of the air inlet pipe being in communication with an air compression device, and the other end of the air inlet pipe being in communication with the air distribution pipe; 8. The air distribution assembly of any of claims 1-4, wherein, and / or, the air distributor further comprises an air inlet pipe, the air inlet pipe being in communication with the air distribution pipe, and a control valve being arranged on the air inlet pipe, the control valve being used for controlling the opening and closing of the air inlet pipe. In the first direction, the bottom of the draft tube is provided with an inlet, and the top of the draft tube is provided with an outlet, the fermentation liquid entering the draft tube from the inlet and flowing out of the draft tube from the outlet; 9. A fermentation apparatus, characterized by, The draft tube is at least partially in a conical structure, and the small-end of the conical structure is arranged towards the outlet, or the outlet is arranged at the small-end of the conical structure. The application relates to a fermentation device. The device comprises: a fermentation tank, the fermentation tank being provided with an inlet and an outlet; a stirring assembly, the stirring assembly being at least partially rotationally arranged in the fermentation tank; The air distribution assembly of any one of claims 1-8, wherein, along the first direction, the draft tube of the air distribution assembly is disposed below the stirring assembly, and the air distributor of the air distribution assembly is at least partially disposed within the draft tube.

10. The fermentation device of claim 9, wherein, The fermentation device further comprises: a connecting member disposed in the fermentation tank, one end of the connecting member being connected to the inner wall of the fermentation tank and the other end being connected to the draft tube; and / or, the fermentation device further comprises: a support member disposed in the fermentation tank and penetrating the draft tube, one end of the support member being connected to the inner wall of the fermentation tank and the other end being connected to the air distributor.

11. The fermentation device of claim 9, wherein, The stirring assembly comprises: a stirring paddle disposed in the fermentation tank; a rotary drive source, an output shaft being disposed at the output end of the rotary drive source, the output shaft penetrating the stirring paddle, the rotary drive source driving the stirring paddle to rotate through the output shaft; The fermentation device further comprises a bearing, the bearing being sleeved outside the output shaft and disposed between the output shaft and the draft tube, the output shaft penetrating the inner ring of the bearing, and the outer ring of the bearing being connected to the draft tube.

12. The fermentation device according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The fermentation device further comprises: a heat exchanger disposed in the fermentation tank; and / or, the fermentation device further comprises: a baffle disposed in the fermentation tank, the baffle being provided with a through hole.

Images