Foam control device in biological pharmacy fermentation process

Abstract

The utility model discloses a foam control device in a biological pharmacy fermentation process, and relates to the technical field of biological pharmacy. Comprising a liquid medicine chamber, supporting legs, a liquid inlet valve, a liquid outlet valve, a mounting platform, a first motor, a first mounting block, a first bearing, a lead screw, a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a first lifting plate, a second mounting block, a vertical rod, a second lifting plate, a lifting frame, a connecting rod, a foam removing assembly and the like. The whole device is composed of a plurality of components such as the liquid medicine chamber, the supporting legs, the liquid inlet valve and the liquid outlet valve in a cooperative mode, and the components are compact and reasonable in layout. For example, through cooperation of the first installation block, the first bearing and the lead screw, stable lifting motion of the first lifting plate is achieved, and the mechanical structure is simple and clear in design and easy to understand and install. And for production enterprises, the construction of the equipment can be quickly completed without complicated installation processes and professional technicians, so that the installation time and the labor cost are greatly saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of biopharmaceutical technology, and in particular to a foam control device in the fermentation process of biopharmaceuticals. Background Technology

[0002] In the fermentation process of biopharmaceuticals, the generation of foam is an extremely challenging and widespread problem that has many negative impacts on the fermentation process.

[0003] Impact on fermentation efficiency: The large amount of foam generated during fermentation occupies the effective space of the fermentation vessel. For example, in large-scale fermenters, excessive foam may reduce the actual volume of fermentation broth, limiting the capacity for fermentation substrate and microorganisms, thereby reducing fermentation efficiency. Simultaneously, the presence of foam interferes with mass transfer during fermentation, affecting the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and microbial cells. Microorganisms cannot fully obtain nutrients, their growth and metabolism are inhibited, further slowing down the fermentation process and increasing production costs.

[0004] Increased risk of contamination: Foam can easily overflow from the fermenter, polluting the fermentation equipment and surrounding environment. The overflowing foam contains microorganisms and fermentation broth components; if not cleaned promptly, these substances can become a breeding ground for unwanted microorganisms. Once these unwanted microorganisms enter the fermentation system, they compete with the target microorganisms for nutrients and living space, altering the fermentation environment and leading to fermentation failure, severely impacting drug quality and yield.

[0005] Interference with fermentation process monitoring: Excessive foam makes it difficult to measure the liquid level in the fermenter, affecting the accurate monitoring of key parameters such as liquid level and dissolved oxygen during fermentation. Inaccurate data may mislead operators' judgment of the fermentation progress, making it impossible to adjust fermentation conditions in a timely manner, thereby affecting fermentation results and product quality.

[0006] Increased production costs: To solve the foam problem, companies typically need to invest additional manpower and resources. On the one hand, frequent manual foam handling increases labor costs; on the other hand, while chemical defoamers can temporarily suppress foam, they may be toxic to fermenting microorganisms, affecting the quality of fermentation products, and the chemical defoamers themselves also increase production costs.

[0007] Currently, commonly used methods for foam control in biopharmaceutical fermentation processes have many shortcomings. While chemical defoamers can quickly eliminate foam, they may affect the growth and metabolism of fermenting microorganisms and may remain in the fermentation products, increasing the difficulty of subsequent separation and purification and posing potential risks to drug quality. Mechanical defoaming devices are often complex in structure, have high installation and maintenance costs, and their defoaming effect is unstable, making them difficult to adapt to fermentation processes of different scales and processes. In actual production, there is an urgent need for a foam control device that is simple in structure, low in cost, easy to install, and fully functional to effectively solve the foam problem in biopharmaceutical fermentation processes, ensure the smooth progress of fermentation, and improve drug quality and production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a foam control device for the fermentation process of biopharmaceuticals in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a technical solution: a foam control device for biopharmaceutical fermentation processes, comprising a liquid chamber, support legs, an inlet valve, an outlet valve, an installation platform, a first motor, a first installation block, a first bearing, a lead screw, a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a first lifting plate, a second installation block, a vertical pole, a second lifting plate, a lifting frame, a connecting rod, and a foam removal assembly; several support legs are fixedly connected to the lower surface of the liquid chamber; an inlet valve is fixedly connected to the lower end of the left side of the liquid chamber, and an outlet valve is fixedly connected to the lower end of the right side of the liquid chamber; a first installation block is fixedly connected to the upper end of the left side of the liquid chamber, and an installation platform is fixedly connected to the lower end of the left side of the liquid chamber; the first motor... A lead screw is movably connected between the mounting block and the mounting platform via a first bearing, and a second bevel gear is fixedly connected to the lower end of the lead screw; a first motor is fixedly connected to the mounting platform, and a first bevel gear is fixedly connected to the output end of the first motor, with the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear meshing together; a first lifting plate is threadedly connected to the lead screw; a second mounting block is fixedly connected to both the upper and lower ends of the right side of the liquid chamber, and a vertical rod is fixedly connected between the second mounting blocks, with a second lifting plate slidably connected to the vertical rod; a lifting frame is fixedly connected between the first lifting plate and the second lifting plate; connecting rods are fixedly connected to both sides of the lower end of the lifting frame; a defoaming component is fixedly connected between the ends of the connecting rods.

[0010] Preferably, the defoaming assembly comprises a housing, a second bearing, a second motor, a pulley, a belt, a shaft, a forward thread, a reverse thread, a slide rail, a moving block, a baffle, a connecting pipe, and a pump. The housing is fixedly connected to the end of a connecting rod. The shaft is movably connected to both sides of the housing cavity via the second bearing. A forward thread is integrally formed on the outer surface of the left end of the shaft, and a reverse thread is integrally formed on the outer surface of the right end of the shaft. A slide rail is fixedly connected to the top of the housing cavity. Moving blocks are threadedly connected to both the forward and reverse threads, and the tops of the moving blocks are slidably connected to the slide rail. A baffle is fixedly connected to the end of each moving block. A pump is fixedly connected to the housing, and the pump communicates with the housing cavity via the connecting pipe. A second motor is fixedly connected to the right side of the upper surface of the housing, and a pulley is fixedly connected to the output end of the second motor. A pulley is fixedly connected to the right end of the shaft, and the pulleys are connected together by a belt.

[0011] Preferably, the bottom of the support leg is provided with an anti-slip pad to increase the stability of the device when it is placed.

[0012] Preferably, the extraction pump is a corrosion-resistant pump, suitable for extracting foam and related liquids during biopharmaceutical fermentation processes.

[0013] Preferably, the baffle is made of a flexible material, which can better fit the inner wall of the fermentation container and improve the defoaming effect.

[0014] Preferably, the first motor is a reversible motor, used to control the forward and reverse rotation of the lead screw, thereby realizing the lifting and lowering movement of the first lifting plate.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: (1) The structure is reasonable and the installation is simple: The overall device structure is composed of multiple components such as the liquid chamber, support legs, inlet valve, and outlet valve. The layout of each component is compact and reasonable. For example, through the cooperation of the first mounting block, the first bearing and the lead screw, the stable lifting movement of the first lifting plate is realized. This mechanical structure design is simple and clear, easy to understand and install. For manufacturing enterprises, there is no need for complicated installation procedures and professional technicians. The equipment can be quickly set up, which greatly saves installation time and labor costs.

[0016] (2) Effective foam control and improved fermentation efficiency: The device is equipped with a powerful defoaming component. The second motor drives the pulley and belt, which in turn rotates the shaft. Utilizing the forward and reverse threads on the shaft, the moving block moves left and right on the slide rail, thereby driving the baffle to clean the foam inside the fermentation container. At the same time, the extraction pump removes the foam in a timely manner through the connecting pipe, preventing foam accumulation. This series of operations can efficiently remove foam, reduce the amount of foam occupying the effective space of the fermentation container, and ensure sufficient capacity for fermentation substrate and microorganisms. Furthermore, with reduced foam, the exchange between oxygen, nutrients, and microbial cells becomes smoother, accelerating microbial growth and metabolism, and significantly improving fermentation efficiency.

[0017] (3) Enhanced stability and safe operation of equipment: The anti-slip pads at the bottom of the support legs increase the friction between the device and the surface on which it is placed. In biopharmaceutical workshops, there may be liquid spills on the floor, which can easily cause the equipment to slide. The anti-slip pads can effectively prevent the device from shifting or tipping over during operation, ensuring stable operation of the equipment and avoiding interference with the fermentation process due to equipment shaking, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of the fermentation process.

[0018] (4) Adapting to the fermentation environment and extending equipment lifespan: The extraction pump adopts a corrosion-resistant pump, which fully considers the chemical characteristics of the liquid in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process. Fermentation broth usually contains a variety of chemical components and has a certain degree of corrosivity. The corrosion-resistant pump can effectively resist the erosion of these chemical substances, ensuring that the extraction pump has stable performance and is not easily damaged during long-term use, thereby extending the service life of the entire foam control device and reducing equipment replacement and maintenance costs.

[0019] (5) Adherence to the container wall improves defoaming effect: The baffle is made of flexible material, which allows it to better adhere to the inner wall of the fermentation container. When cleaning foam, the flexible baffle can make close contact with the container wall, effectively removing the foam adhering to the container wall and avoiding cleaning dead corners. Compared with traditional rigid baffles, the defoaming effect of the flexible baffle is significantly improved, further ensuring the smooth progress of the fermentation process and improving the quality of the medicine.

[0020] (6) Flexible motor control to meet different needs: The first motor is a reversible motor, and the lifting and lowering movement of the first lifting plate is achieved by controlling the forward and reverse rotation of the lead screw. This design allows the defoaming component to flexibly adjust its height according to the actual distribution of foam in the fermentation container. In areas with more foam, the defoaming component can be lowered to a suitable position for focused cleaning; in areas with less foam, the component can be raised appropriately to avoid unnecessary operations. This flexible control method improves the adaptability of the device and meets the needs of different fermentation processes and foam conditions. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 This utility model Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the enlarged local structure Figure 1 .

[0023] Figure 3 This utility model Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the enlarged local structure Figure 2 .

[0024] Figure 4 This utility model Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the enlarged local structure Figure 3 .

[0025] 1-Medicine chamber; 2-Support leg; 3-Inlet valve; 4-Outlet valve; 5-Mounting platform; 6-First motor; 7-First mounting block; 8-First bearing; 9-Lead screw; 10-First bevel gear; 11-Second bevel gear; 12-First lifting plate; 13-Second mounting block; 14-Upright pole; 15-Second lifting plate; 16-Lifting frame; 17-Connecting rod; 18-Cover; 19-Second bearing; 20-Second motor; 21-Pulley; 22-Belt; 23-Shaft; 24-Forward thread; 25-Reverse thread; 26-Slide rail; 27-Moving block; 28-Baffle; 29-Connecting pipe; 30-Extraction pump. Detailed Implementation

[0026] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, this specific embodiment adopts the following technical solution: a foam control device for biopharmaceutical fermentation process, including a liquid chamber 1, support legs 2, inlet valve 3, outlet valve 4, mounting platform 5, first motor 6, first mounting block 7, first bearing 8, lead screw 9, first bevel gear 10, second bevel gear 11, first lifting plate 12, second mounting block 13, upright 14, second lifting plate 15, lifting frame 16, connecting rod 17, and defoaming assembly; several support legs 2 are fixedly connected around the lower surface of the liquid chamber 1; the inlet valve 3 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the left side of the liquid chamber 1, and the outlet valve 4 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the right side of the liquid chamber 1; the first mounting block 7 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the left side of the liquid chamber 1, and the mounting platform 5 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the left side of the liquid chamber 1; the first mounting block 7 and the mounting platform 5 are fixedly connected to the upper end of the left side of the liquid chamber 1; the first mounting block 7 and the mounting platform 5 are fixedly connected to the lower end of the left side of the liquid chamber 1; the first mounting block 7 and the mounting platform 5 are fixedly connected to the upper end of the left side of the liquid chamber 1. Platforms 5 are movably connected by a lead screw 9 via a first bearing 8, and a second bevel gear 11 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the lead screw 9; a first motor 6 is fixedly connected to the mounting platform 5, and a first bevel gear 10 is fixedly connected to the output end of the first motor 6, with the first bevel gear 10 and the second bevel gear 11 meshing together; a first lifting plate 12 is threadedly connected to the lead screw 9; a second mounting block 13 is fixedly connected to both the upper and lower ends of the right side of the liquid chamber 1, and a vertical rod 14 is fixedly connected between the second mounting blocks 13, with a second lifting plate 15 slidably connected to the vertical rod 14; a lifting frame 16 is fixedly connected between the first lifting plate 12 and the second lifting plate 15; connecting rods 17 are fixedly connected to both sides of the lower end of the lifting frame 16; and a defoaming component is fixedly connected between the ends of the connecting rods 17.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, the specific structure of the defoaming assembly includes a housing 18, a second bearing 19, a second motor 20, a pulley 21, a belt 22, a rotating shaft 23, a forward-rotating thread 24, a reverse-rotating thread 25, a slide rail 26, a moving block 27, a baffle 28, a connecting pipe 29, and a pump 30. The housing 18 is fixedly connected to the end of the connecting rod 17. The rotating shaft 23 is movably connected to both sides of the interior of the housing 18 via the second bearing 19. The left outer surface of the rotating shaft 23 has a forward-rotating thread 24 integrally formed, and the right outer surface of the rotating shaft 23 has a reverse-rotating thread 25 integrally formed. The top of the interior of the housing 18 is fixedly connected to... The slide rail 26; both the forward thread 24 and the reverse thread 25 are threadedly connected to a moving block 27, the top of which is slidably connected to the slide rail 26; a baffle 28 is fixedly connected to the end of the moving block 27; a pump 30 is fixedly connected to the cover 18, and the pump 30 is connected to the interior of the cover 18 through a connecting pipe 29; a second motor 20 is fixedly connected to the right side of the upper surface of the cover 18, and a pulley 21 is fixedly connected to the output end of the second motor 20; a pulley 21 is fixedly connected to the right end of the rotating shaft 23, and the pulleys 21 are connected together by a belt 22.

[0028] The support leg 2 is equipped with an anti-slip pad at its bottom to increase the stability of the device when it is placed; the extraction pump 30 is a corrosion-resistant pump, suitable for extracting foam and related liquids in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process; the baffle 28 is made of flexible material, which can better fit the inner wall of the fermentation container and improve the defoaming effect; the first motor 6 is a forward and reverse motor, used to control the forward and reverse rotation of the lead screw 9, thereby realizing the lifting and lowering movement of the first lifting plate 12.

[0029] The utility model is used in the following manner: During the fermentation process of biopharmaceuticals, the various components of this foam control device work together to effectively control foam. The working state is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0030] (1) Preparation stage: Place the device in a suitable position and ensure that the anti-slip pads at the bottom of the support leg 2 are in close contact with the placement surface to increase the stability of the device. Inject the relevant medicine into the medicine chamber 1 through the liquid inlet valve 3 to prepare for subsequent operations.

[0031] (2) Height Adjustment: Start the first motor 6, which acts as a forward and reverse motor. Its output drives the first bevel gear 10 to rotate. The first bevel gear 10 meshes with the second bevel gear 11, thereby driving the lead screw 9 to rotate within the first bearing 8. Since the lead screw 9 is threadedly connected to the first lifting plate 12, the rotation of the lead screw 9 causes the first lifting plate 12 to move up and down along the lead screw 9. At the same time, the second lifting plate 15 slides on the upright 14, working together with the first lifting plate 12 to ensure the smooth lifting of the lifting frame 16. Adjust the lifting frame 16 to a suitable position according to the height of the foam in the fermentation container so that the defoaming component can effectively contact the foam area.

[0032] (3) Foam Cleaning: The second motor 20 is turned on. The pulley 21 at the output end of the second motor 20 drives the pulley 21 at the right end of the rotating shaft 23 to rotate via the belt 22, causing the rotating shaft 23 to rotate within the second bearing 19. The forward-rotating thread 24 at the left end and the reverse-rotating thread 25 at the right end of the rotating shaft 23 drive the two moving blocks 27 to move relative to each other or in opposite directions on the slide rail 26. The baffle 28 at the end of the moving block 27 moves accordingly to scrape off the foam in the fermentation container. During this process, the extraction pump 30 is started, and the foam and liquid in the cover 18 are extracted and discharged through the connecting pipe 29 to avoid foam accumulation and improve the cleaning effect. Since the baffle 28 is made of flexible material, it can better fit the inner wall of the fermentation container, remove the foam attached to the container wall, and reduce cleaning dead corners.

[0033] (4) Continuous monitoring and adjustment: During the fermentation process, the operator continuously observes the foam generation. If the amount of foam increases or the distribution changes, the height of the defoaming component can be adjusted again through the first motor 6 to keep it in the optimal working position, ensuring that the fermentation process is not affected by excessive foam and that the fermentation proceeds smoothly.

[0034] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "coaxial", "bottom", "one end", "top", "middle", "other end", "upper", "side", "top", "inner", "front", "center", "both ends", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0035] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "setting", "connection", "fixing", "screw connection", etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Unless otherwise explicitly limited, those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0036] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications may be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. All such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this utility model as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0037] The control method of this utility model is to control the device by manually starting and stopping the switch. The wiring diagram of the power element and the supply of power are common knowledge in the field. Since this utility model is mainly used to protect mechanical devices, the control method and wiring layout will not be explained in detail.

Claims

1. A foam control device for biopharmaceutical fermentation processes, characterized in that: It includes a liquid chamber (1), a support leg (2), an inlet valve (3), an outlet valve (4), an installation platform (5), a first motor (6), a first mounting block (7), a first bearing (8), a lead screw (9), a first bevel gear (10), a second bevel gear (11), a first lifting plate (12), a second mounting block (13), a vertical pole (14), a second lifting plate (15), a lifting frame (16), a connecting rod (17), and a foam removal assembly; Several support legs (2) are fixedly connected around the lower surface of the liquid chamber (1); The lower left side of the liquid chamber (1) is fixedly connected to an inlet valve (3), and the lower right side of the liquid chamber (1) is fixedly connected to an outlet valve (4). The upper left side of the liquid chamber (1) is fixedly connected to a first mounting block (7), and the lower left side of the liquid chamber (1) is fixedly connected to an mounting platform (5). The first mounting block (7) and the mounting platform (5) are movably connected by a lead screw (9) through a first bearing (8), and the lower end of the lead screw (9) is fixedly connected to a second bevel tooth (11). A first motor (6) is fixedly connected to the installation platform (5), and a first bevel gear (10) is fixedly connected to the output end of the first motor (6). The first bevel gear (10) and the second bevel gear (11) mesh together. The lead screw (9) is connected to a first lifting plate (12) by a thread; The upper and lower ends of the right side surface of the liquid chamber (1) are fixedly connected to a second mounting block (13), and a vertical rod (14) is fixedly connected between the second mounting blocks (13). A second lifting plate (15) is slidably connected to the vertical rod (14). A lifting frame (16) is fixedly connected between the first lifting plate (12) and the second lifting plate (15). The lower ends of the lifting frame (16) are fixedly connected to the connecting rods (17) on both sides. A foam removal component is fixedly connected between the ends of the connecting rod (17).

2. The foam control device in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The specific structure of the defoaming component includes a housing (18), a second bearing (19), a second motor (20), a pulley (21), a belt (22), a rotating shaft (23), a forward thread (24), a reverse thread (25), a slide rail (26), a moving block (27), a baffle (28), a connecting pipe (29), and a pump (30). The cover (18) is fixedly connected to the end of the connecting rod (17); The inner sides of the cavity of the cover (18) are movably connected to the rotating shaft (23) via the second bearing (19). The outer surface of the left end of the rotating shaft (23) is integrally formed with a positive spiral thread (24), and the outer surface of the right end of the rotating shaft (23) is integrally formed with a negative spiral thread (25). The top of the cavity of the cover (18) is fixedly connected to a slide rail (26). Both the forward spiral thread (24) and the reverse spiral thread (25) are threadedly connected to a movable block (27), and the top of the movable block (27) is slidably connected to the slide rail (26); A baffle (28) is fixedly connected to the end of the movable block (27); A pump (30) is fixedly connected to the cover (18), and the pump (30) is connected to the interior of the cover (18) through a connecting pipe (29); A second motor (20) is fixedly connected to the right side of the upper surface of the cover (18), and a pulley (21) is fixedly connected to the output end of the second motor (20). A pulley (21) is fixedly connected to the right end of the shaft (23), and the pulleys (21) are connected together by a belt (22).

3. The foam control device in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the support leg (2) is provided with an anti-slip pad to increase the stability of the device when it is placed.

4. The foam control device in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process according to claim 2, characterized in that: The extraction pump (30) is a corrosion-resistant pump, suitable for extracting foam and related liquids in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process.

5. The foam control device in the biopharmaceutical fermentation process according to claim 2, characterized in that: The baffle (28) is made of flexible material, which can better fit the inner wall of the fermentation container and improve the defoaming effect.

6. The foam control device for biopharmaceutical fermentation process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first motor (6) is a forward and reverse motor, used to control the forward and reverse rotation of the lead screw (9), thereby realizing the lifting and lowering movement of the first lifting plate (12).

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