Multilayer adjustable microbial fermentation stirring tank

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank, it is related to the technical field of stirred tank.It includes tank body, tank body is equipped with driving mechanism, feed inlet and driving shaft, driving mechanism is used to drive the rotation of this driving shaft, and driving shaft is equipped with first stirring paddle;Driving shaft is spaced apart along its axial direction and is equipped with multiple stirring mechanisms, any stirring mechanism includes mounting ring and second stirring paddle arranged in mounting ring;Locking ring is equipped above mounting ring, and locking ring is slidably sleeved in driving shaft;When locking ring is separated from mounting ring, mounting ring can rotate relative to driving shaft, when locking ring is connected with mounting ring, mounting ring can rotate synchronously with driving shaft.Adopting the utility model, it can flexibly adjust the layer number of stirring paddle stirring, only needs a layer of stirring paddle to work alone when fermentation broth viscosity is lower, and energy consumption is low;When fermentation broth viscosity is higher, it can work simultaneously through multiple layers of stirring paddle, prevent fermentation broth from generating mixing dead angle, facilitate to stir evenly fermentation broth in fermentation tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of mixing tank technology, and more specifically, to a multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation mixing tank. Background Technology

[0002] A fermenter generally refers to an industrial device used for microbial fermentation. Its main body is typically a cylindrical structure made of stainless steel, and it usually contains an agitator for stirring the fermentation material. Existing fermenters generally employ a fixed single-layer stirring structure, with the stirring position fixed. Because the viscosity of the fermentation broth varies at different heights during fermentation, if the high-viscosity broth is far from the agitator, it is difficult to achieve uniform mixing within the fermenter, thus creating mixing dead zones. If a multi-layer stirring structure were used, a large motor power would be required, resulting in high energy consumption for low-viscosity fermentation broths that only require single-layer stirring. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation mixing tank, which can flexibly adjust the number of mixing layers of the mixing paddle. When the viscosity of the fermentation liquid is low, only one layer of mixing paddle needs to work alone, resulting in low energy consumption. When the viscosity of the fermentation liquid is high, multiple layers of mixing paddle can work simultaneously to prevent the fermentation liquid from forming mixing dead zones and facilitate the uniform mixing of the fermentation liquid in the fermentation tank.

[0004] The technical solution adopted in this utility model is as follows:

[0005] This application provides a multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank, including a tank body, a drive mechanism and a feed inlet at the top of the tank body, a drive shaft rotatably mounted inside the tank body, the top of the drive shaft being connected to the drive mechanism for transmission, the drive mechanism being used to drive the drive shaft to rotate, and the drive shaft being provided with a first stirring paddle; a discharge pipe is provided at the bottom of the tank body, and the discharge pipe is provided with a valve;

[0006] The drive shaft is provided with a plurality of stirring mechanisms spaced apart along its axial direction, and the stirring mechanisms are all located above the first stirring paddle; each stirring mechanism includes a mounting ring rotatably sleeved on the drive shaft and a second stirring paddle disposed on the mounting ring; each mounting ring is provided with a locking ring above it, and the locking ring is slidably sleeved on the drive shaft; when the locking ring is separated from the mounting ring, the mounting ring can rotate relative to the drive shaft; when the locking ring is connected to the mounting ring, the mounting ring can rotate synchronously with the drive shaft.

[0007] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, the bottom of the locking ring is provided with a plurality of inserts evenly spaced along its circumference, and the bottom of the inserts is arc-shaped; the top of the mounting ring is provided with a plurality of baffles evenly spaced along its circumference, and the top of the baffles is pointed; any one of the inserts can be embedded between two adjacent baffles.

[0008] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, each of the locking rings is provided with a drive rod and an electric push rod. The electric push rod is located on the drive shaft, with its telescopic end facing downward and connected to the top of the drive rod; the bottom of the drive rod is connected to the locking ring.

[0009] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, a conductive slip ring is also included, the conductive slip ring comprising a slip ring stator and a slip ring rotor rotatably connected to each other; the slip ring stator is disposed on the tank body, the slip ring rotor is fixedly sleeved on the drive shaft, and the slip ring rotor is connected to the electric push rod.

[0010] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, a gas source is also included, wherein the gas supply end of the gas source is provided with a gas delivery pipe, and the gas delivery pipe is connected to the inside of the tank.

[0011] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, the drive shaft is provided with an air supply channel, and the side wall of the drive shaft is provided with a plurality of aeration holes communicating with the air supply channel; the end of the air delivery pipe away from the air source is connected to the air supply channel.

[0012] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, a gas rotary joint is provided between the gas delivery pipe and the gas supply channel. The gas rotary joint includes a rotary joint stator and a rotary joint rotor that are rotatably connected to each other. The rotary joint rotor is located at the bottom of the drive shaft, and the gas outlet end of the rotary joint rotor is connected to the gas supply channel. The rotary joint stator is located on the tank body, and the end of the gas delivery pipe away from the gas source is connected to the gas inlet end of the rotary joint stator.

[0013] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, the outer wall of the drive shaft near the top end is rotatably mounted on the tank body via a bearing; a fixed bracket is provided on the inner wall of the bottom of the tank body, and the outer wall of the drive shaft near the bottom end is rotatably mounted on the fixed bracket via a bearing.

[0014] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this utility model, the driving mechanism includes a motor and a gearbox located on the top of the tank, the drive shaft of the motor is connected to the power input end of the gearbox, and the power output end of the gearbox is connected to the drive shaft.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of this utility model have at least the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. This application can connect the locking ring and the mounting ring so that the mounting ring can rotate synchronously with the drive shaft. In this way, when the drive shaft rotates, in addition to driving the first stirring paddle to stir, it can also drive the second stirring paddle at the corresponding position to rotate synchronously to stir. At this time, multi-layer stirring can be achieved. By having multiple stirring paddles work at the same time, the mixing dead zone of the fermentation liquid is prevented, and it is easy to stir the fermentation liquid in the fermentation tank evenly.

[0017] 2. This application allows the electric push rod to extend and push the drive rod downwards, which in turn pushes the locking ring at the bottom downwards and locks it in place with the mounting ring. Operation is simple. When the second stirring paddle is not needed, the electric push rod can be activated, shortening it and pulling the drive rod upwards to reset. The locking ring at the bottom can then be pulled upwards by the drive rod and separated from the mounting ring.

[0018] 3. This application incorporates a conductive slip ring, allowing operators to easily control the extension and retraction of the electric actuator via an external electric actuator control module, making it more convenient to use. The inclusion of a pneumatic rotary joint prevents the rotation of the drive shaft from affecting gas delivery. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microbial fermentation stirred tank provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 A partial sectional view of the interior of the tank provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0024] Figure 5 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point C in the middle;

[0025] Figure 6 for Figure 2 Sectional view of AA;

[0026] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the locking ring and drive rod provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0027] Figure 8 A top view of the mounting ring provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 9 A partial longitudinal sectional view of the locking ring and mounting ring after they are connected to each other, as provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0029] Icons: 1-Tank body; 2-Inlet; 3-Drive shaft; 4-Discharge pipe; 5-Valve; 6-First agitator; 7-Motor; 8-Gearbox; 9-Mounting ring; 10-Second agitator; 11-Locking ring; 12-Insertion block; 13-Baffle; 14-Drive rod; 15-Electric push rod; 16-Slip ring stator; 17-Slip ring rotor; 18-Air source; 19-Air supply pipe; 20-Air supply channel; 21-Aeration hole; 22-Rotary joint stator; 23-Rotary joint rotor; 24-Bearing; 25-Fixed bracket; 26-Exhaust pipe; 27-Limit plate. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] Please refer to Figures 1-9 This embodiment provides a multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation mixing tank, including a tank body 1. The tank body 1 is used for microbial fermentation. The top of the tank body 1 is provided with a drive mechanism and a feed inlet 2. The feed inlet 2 is used for the input of materials to be fermented. The feed inlet 2 can be covered by a sealing cap. In this embodiment, the top of the tank body 1 can also be provided with an exhaust pipe 26 for discharging the gas generated during fermentation.

[0033] A drive shaft 3 is rotatably mounted inside the tank 1. The top of the drive shaft 3 is connected to a drive mechanism, which drives the drive shaft 3 to rotate. The drive mechanism includes a motor 7 and a gearbox 8 located at the top of the tank 1. The drive shaft of the motor 7 is connected to the power input end of the gearbox 8, and the power output end of the gearbox 8 is connected to the drive shaft 3. Thus, the drive shaft 3 is driven to rotate via the transmission of the motor 7 and the gearbox 8. The drive shaft 3 is equipped with a first stirring paddle 6, which rotates under the drive of the drive shaft 3 to stir the fermentation liquid inside the tank 1. A discharge pipe 4 is located at the bottom of the tank 1, and the discharge pipe 4 is equipped with a valve 5. The discharge pipe 4 is used to open the valve 5 to discharge the material from the tank 1 after fermentation is complete.

[0034] The drive shaft 3 is provided with a plurality of stirring mechanisms at intervals along its axial direction, and the stirring mechanisms are all located above the first stirring paddle 6. Each stirring mechanism includes a mounting ring 9 rotatably sleeved on the drive shaft 3 and a second stirring paddle 10 disposed on the mounting ring 9. In this embodiment, the mounting ring 9 can be rotatably nested on the outer wall of the drive shaft 3, or corresponding limiting plates 27 can be provided above and below the mounting ring 9 for limiting. The limiting plates 27 can be fixed to the outer wall of the drive shaft 3, so that the mounting ring 9 can only rotate relative to the drive shaft 3 and cannot slide along the axial direction of the drive shaft 3.

[0035] Each of the mounting rings 9 is provided with a corresponding locking ring 11. The locking ring 11 is slidably sleeved on the drive shaft 3. The locking ring 11 can only slide along the axial direction of the drive shaft 3 and cannot rotate relative to the drive shaft 3. When the locking ring 11 is separated from the mounting ring 9, the mounting ring 9 can rotate relative to the drive shaft 3. When the locking ring 11 is connected to the mounting ring 9, the mounting ring 9 can rotate synchronously with the drive shaft 3. In this embodiment, each stirring mechanism can be individually selected to stir. Preferably, there are two stirring mechanisms in this embodiment. Of course, the specific number can be reasonably selected according to actual needs and is not limited to two.

[0036] Under normal conditions, the locking ring 11 is separated from the mounting ring 9, and the mounting ring 9 rotates relative to the drive shaft 3. That is, when the drive shaft 3 rotates, it does not drive the mounting ring 9 to rotate synchronously. This is suitable for stirring when the viscosity of the fermentation broth is low. After the motor 7 drives the drive shaft 3 to rotate, the drive shaft 3 drives the first stirring paddle 6 at the bottom to stir. At this time, it is a single-layer stirring structure. The two second stirring paddles 10 will not stir, and the motor 7 can maintain low power operation, resulting in low energy consumption.

[0037] When the fermentation broth has a high viscosity, the corresponding locking ring 11 can be moved downwards. When the second stirring paddle 10 in the middle needs to stir, the locking ring 11 corresponding to the middle stirring mechanism is moved downwards to connect the locking ring 11 with the mounting ring 9 corresponding to the middle stirring mechanism. Similarly, when the second stirring paddle 10 at the top needs to stir, the locking ring 11 corresponding to the top stirring mechanism is moved downwards. After the locking ring 11 is connected to the mounting ring 9, the mounting ring 9 can rotate synchronously with the drive shaft 3. Thus, when the drive shaft 3 rotates, in addition to driving the first stirring paddle 6 to stir, it can also drive the corresponding second stirring paddle 10 to rotate synchronously for stirring. At this time, multi-layer stirring can be achieved. By having multiple stirring paddles work simultaneously, dead zones in the fermentation broth are prevented, making it easier to stir the fermentation broth in the fermenter evenly.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] Please refer to Figures 2-9Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, the locking ring 11 has a plurality of inserts 12 evenly spaced along its circumference at the bottom, and the bottom of each insert 12 is arc-shaped; the mounting ring 9 has a plurality of baffles 13 evenly spaced along its circumference at the top, and the top of each baffle 13 is pointed; any insert 12 can be inserted between two adjacent baffles 13. In this embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent baffles 13 is set so that only one insert 12 can be inserted at a time. The arc-shaped bottom of the insert 12 and the pointed top of the baffle 13 facilitate the insertion of the insert 12 smoothly between two adjacent baffles 13 as the locking ring 11 moves downward. By setting the inserts 12 and baffles 13, when the corresponding second stirring paddle 10 is needed for stirring, the locking ring 11 can be slid downward until each insert 12 at the bottom of the locking ring 11 is inserted between the baffles 13 at the top of the mounting ring 9. Thus, when the locking ring 11 rotates, the inserts 12 can drive the baffles 13 and the mounting ring 9 to rotate synchronously, thereby driving the second stirring paddle 10 at that position to rotate for stirring. When the second stirring paddle 10 is not needed for stirring, slide the locking ring 11 upward until the insert 12 and the baffle 13 separate from each other.

[0040] like Figures 2-4 As shown, in some embodiments, each of the locking rings 11 is provided with a drive rod 14 and an electric push rod 15. The electric push rod 15 is located on the drive shaft 3, with its telescopic end facing downwards and connected to the top of the drive rod 14; the bottom of the drive rod 14 is connected to the locking ring 11. In this embodiment, each locking ring 11 is provided with two drive rods 14 and two electric push rods 15. The two drive rods 14 are disposed opposite each other on the outer wall of the drive shaft 3. The outer wall of the drive shaft 3 can be provided with corresponding grooves so that the drive rods 14 can be slidably embedded into the grooves for installation. The electric push rod 15 is used to drive the drive rod 14 to slide downwards or upwards.

[0041] When the second stirring paddle 10 is needed for stirring, the electric push rod 15 can be activated. The electric push rod 15 extends and pushes the drive rod 14 downward. At this time, the locking ring 11 at the bottom can be pushed downward by the drive rod 14 and locked in place by the mounting ring 9. The operation is simple. When the second stirring paddle 10 is not needed for stirring, the electric push rod 15 can be activated. The electric push rod 15 shortens and pulls the drive rod 14 upward to return to its original position. At this time, the locking ring 11 at the bottom can be pulled upward by the drive rod 14 and separated from the mounting ring 9.

[0042] Example 3

[0043] Please refer to Figures 2-3Based on Embodiment 2, this embodiment further includes a conductive slip ring, which comprises a slip ring stator 16 and a slip ring rotor 17 rotatably connected to each other. The slip ring stator 16 is disposed on the tank body 1, and the slip ring rotor 17 is fixedly sleeved on the drive shaft 3. The slip ring rotor 17 is connected to the electric push rod 15. A conductive slip ring is an existing product for transmitting signals such as current and data between rotating and stationary objects. In this embodiment, the conductive slip ring can be a hollow shaft slip ring, which is fixedly sleeved on the outer wall of the drive shaft 3 via the slip ring rotor 17. The wires of the slip ring rotor 17 are electrically connected to the electric push rod 15. Simultaneously, the slip ring stator 16 is disposed on the tank body 1, and the wires of the slip ring stator 16 are electrically connected to an external electric push rod control module. This allows operators to control the extension and retraction of the electric push rod 15 externally via the electric push rod control module, making it more convenient to use.

[0044] Example 4

[0045] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 Based on Embodiment 1, this embodiment further includes a gas source 18, the gas source 18 having a gas supply pipe 19 at its gas supply end, the gas supply pipe 19 being connected to the interior of the tank 1. In this embodiment, the gas source 18 can be an existing product such as a gas pump, which supplies gas to the gas supply pipe 19, facilitating the delivery of gas into the tank 1 for use by microorganisms requiring oxygen for fermentation.

[0046] In this embodiment, the drive shaft 3 is provided with an air supply channel 20, and the side wall of the drive shaft 3 is provided with a plurality of aeration holes 21 communicating with the air supply channel 20; the end of the air supply pipe 19 away from the air source 18 is connected to the air supply channel 20. In this embodiment, the air supply pipe 19 delivers gas into the air supply channel 20, and the air supply channel 20 can deliver gas to the position of each aeration hole 21. In this way, after the gas flows out from each aeration hole 21, a large number of bubbles can be generated in the fermentation liquid. At the same time, the fermentation liquid is stirred by the stirring paddle, and the gas dispersion effect is enhanced by centrifugal force, which facilitates the uniform distribution of dissolved oxygen.

[0047] Since the drive shaft 3 rotates continuously during use, a gas rotary joint is provided between the gas supply pipe 19 and the gas supply channel 20 in this embodiment. The gas rotary joint includes a rotary joint stator 22 and a rotary joint rotor 23 that are rotatably connected to each other. The rotary joint rotor 23 is located at the bottom of the drive shaft 3, and the outlet end of the rotary joint rotor 23 is connected to the gas supply channel 20. The rotary joint stator 22 is located on the tank body 1, and the end of the gas supply pipe 19 away from the gas source 18 is connected to the inlet end of the rotary joint stator 22.

[0048] A pneumatic rotary joint is an existing product that can stably transmit gas while rotating, and is suitable for various fields such as robotic arms and packaging machinery. By setting up a pneumatic rotary joint, the rotation of the drive shaft 3 can drive the rotary joint rotor 23 to rotate. At the same time, the gas delivered by the gas supply pipe 19 can enter the rotary joint stator 22 through the air inlet end of the rotary joint stator 22, and then be stably transmitted to the rotary joint rotor 23, and finally enter the gas supply channel 20 to realize the gas delivery, preventing the rotation of the drive shaft 3 from affecting the gas delivery.

[0049] Example 5

[0050] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, the outer wall of the drive shaft 3 near the top end is rotatably mounted on the tank body 1 via a bearing 24; a fixed bracket 25 is provided on the inner wall of the bottom of the tank body 1, and the outer wall of the drive shaft 3 near the bottom end is rotatably mounted on the fixed bracket 25 via the bearing 24. By setting the fixed bracket 25, the drive shaft 3 near the bottom end can be limited, preventing the drive shaft 3 from swinging during rotation and improving its stability in use.

[0051] In this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "another embodiment," "embodiment," etc., refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment, which are included in at least one embodiment described in the general description of this application. The appearance of the same term in multiple places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, the intention is to suggest that implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments also falls within the scope of this utility model.

[0052] Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to several illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many other modifications and implementations can be devised by those skilled in the art, which will fall within the scope and spirit of the principles disclosed herein. More specifically, various variations and modifications can be made to the components and / or layout of the subject matter combination within the scope of the disclosure, drawings, and claims. Besides variations and modifications to the components and / or layout, other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank, comprising a tank body, a drive mechanism and a feed inlet at the top of the tank body, a drive shaft rotatably mounted inside the tank body, the top of the drive shaft being drively connected to the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being used to drive the drive shaft to rotate, and the drive shaft being provided with a first stirring paddle; a discharge pipe at the bottom of the tank body, the discharge pipe being provided with a valve; characterized in that: The drive shaft is provided with a plurality of stirring mechanisms spaced apart along its axial direction, and the stirring mechanisms are all located above the first stirring paddle; each stirring mechanism includes a mounting ring rotatably sleeved on the drive shaft and a second stirring paddle disposed on the mounting ring; each mounting ring is provided with a locking ring above it, and the locking ring is slidably sleeved on the drive shaft; when the locking ring is separated from the mounting ring, the mounting ring can rotate relative to the drive shaft; when the locking ring is connected to the mounting ring, the mounting ring can rotate synchronously with the drive shaft.

2. The multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking ring has a plurality of inserts evenly spaced along its circumference at the bottom, and the bottom of the inserts is arc-shaped; the mounting ring has a plurality of baffles evenly spaced along its circumference at the top, and the top of the baffles is pointed; any one of the inserts can be embedded between two adjacent baffles.

3. The multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the locking rings is provided with a drive rod and an electric push rod. The electric push rod is located on the drive shaft, with its telescopic end facing downward and connected to the top of the drive rod; the bottom of the drive rod is connected to the locking ring.

4. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a conductive slip ring, which comprises a slip ring stator and a slip ring rotor that are rotatably connected to each other; the slip ring stator is disposed on the tank body, the slip ring rotor is fixedly sleeved on the drive shaft, and the slip ring rotor is connected to the electric push rod.

5. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a gas source, the gas source having a gas supply pipe at its supply end, and the gas supply pipe being connected to the inside of the tank.

6. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 5, characterized in that: The drive shaft is provided with an air supply channel, and the side wall of the drive shaft is provided with a plurality of aeration holes that communicate with the air supply channel; the end of the air delivery pipe away from the air source is connected to the air supply channel.

7. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 6, characterized in that: A gas rotary joint is provided between the gas transmission pipe and the gas supply channel. The gas rotary joint includes a rotary joint stator and a rotary joint rotor that are rotatably connected to each other. The rotary joint rotor is located at the bottom of the drive shaft, and the outlet end of the rotary joint rotor is connected to the gas supply channel. The rotary joint stator is located on the tank body, and the end of the gas transmission pipe away from the gas source is connected to the inlet end of the rotary joint stator.

8. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the drive shaft near the top end is rotatably mounted on the tank body via a bearing; a fixed bracket is provided on the inner wall of the bottom of the tank body, and the outer wall of the drive shaft near the bottom end is rotatably mounted on the fixed bracket via a bearing.

9. A multi-layer adjustable microbial fermentation stirred tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a motor and a gearbox located on the top of the tank. The drive shaft of the motor is connected to the power input end of the gearbox, and the power output end of the gearbox is connected to the drive shaft.

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