An airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation
By introducing two sets of forced circulation systems and a Venturi mixer into the airlift fermenter, the problem of insufficient circulation power was solved, achieving efficient mixing and low-cost continuous fermentation production, and improving the loading coefficient and production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHENGDU QIFENG TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
The existing airlift fermenters have insufficient circulating power, resulting in poor mixing effect, high compressed air cost, and the need to shut down the tank for maintenance when the sensor is damaged, which affects production.
It employs two sets of water pump forced circulation systems and Venturi mixers, combined with gas-liquid separators and static mixers, to provide multiple circulation power, reduce compressed air consumption, and can operate independently when one system fails, avoiding production shutdowns for maintenance.
It improved the loading coefficient and production efficiency of the fermenter, reduced the cost of compressed air, and enabled continuous operation and efficient mixing of the fermentation system.
Smart Images
Figure CN224494151U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of airlift fermenters, and in particular relates to an airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation. Background Technology
[0002] An airlift fermenter is a device used in the field of bio-fermentation. It utilizes air nozzles to eject high-speed air, which is dispersed into the liquid as bubbles. On the aerated side, the average liquid density decreases, while on the non-aerated side, the liquid density is higher, creating a density difference. This generates circulation within the fermenter, allowing solid particles, even heavier ones, to remain completely suspended, which is beneficial for thorough mixing and reaction of the gas, liquid, and solid phases. Therefore, airlift fermenters are widely used in large-scale microbial fermentation, such as in aerobic fermentation processes for antibiotics, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, and organic acids.
[0003] Existing airlift fermenters rely solely on gas lift for circulation, resulting in poor circulation and mixing, and consuming excessive compressed air, thus increasing compressed air costs. Furthermore, airlift fermenters contain various sensors, which are prone to damage. When a sensor fails, the fermenter must be shut down for repairs, disrupting normal production.
[0004] Therefore, addressing the shortcomings of the existing technologies has become the focus of efforts for those working in this field. Utility Model Content
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation, which can completely solve the shortcomings of the prior art. During production, the fermenter device does not need to be shut down for maintenance and can maintain the continuous operation of the fermentation system for a long time without affecting normal production. It can reduce the amount of compressed air used and save costs. The loading coefficient of the main body of the fermenter can be increased from 50-60% to 80-90%, and the production efficiency can be increased by more than 50%.
[0006] The objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0007] An airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation includes a fermenter body. The fermenter body has a first interface at the bottom and a second interface at the top. The second interface is connected to a gas-liquid separator. The first interface is connected to a first water pump and a second water pump via pipelines. The first water pump and the second water pump are each connected to the fermenter body via return pipelines. A Venturi mixer is installed on the return pipelines. The gas-liquid separator is connected to the Venturi mixer via pipelines.
[0008] Furthermore, a circular guide tube is fixed inside the fermenter body. The circular guide tube is open at both the top and bottom, forming a downward channel inside the circular guide tube. An upward channel is formed between the outer wall of the circular guide tube and the inner wall of the fermenter body. Corresponding to the upward channel, an air inlet is provided at the bottom of the fermenter body. The air inlet is connected to a compressed air source through a pipeline.
[0009] Furthermore, the gas-liquid separator is equipped with an exhaust port.
[0010] Furthermore, the gas-liquid separator is connected to two Venturi mixers via pipelines.
[0011] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this utility model are: simple structure, reasonable design, and circulation power provided by gas lift and forced circulation force of a water pump. Its circulation effect is superior to existing airlift fermenters, reducing the amount of compressed air used and saving compressed air costs. Specifically:
[0012] (1) This utility model has two external circulation systems set up by the first water pump and the second water pump, which can be operated independently. When the sensor on one of the external circulation systems is damaged, it is only necessary to stop the operation of the circulation pipeline and replace the sensor. The other external circulation system can still operate normally without stopping the tank for maintenance. It can maintain the continuous operation of the fermentation system for a long time without affecting normal production.
[0013] (2) The circulation power of this utility model is provided by gas lift and water pump forced circulation force. Its circulation effect is better than that of the existing airlift fermenter, which can reduce the amount of compressed air used and save compressed air costs.
[0014] (3) Furthermore, due to the addition of the top gas-liquid separator, combined with the air intake function of the Venturi mixer and other auxiliary bubble-breaking equipment, the bubbles generated during fermentation can be quickly destroyed, and the loading coefficient of the main body of the fermentation tank can be increased from 50%-60% to 80%-90%, and the equipment production efficiency is increased by more than 50%. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
[0017] like Figure 1As shown, an airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation includes a fermenter body 1. The fermenter body 1 has a first interface 2 at the bottom and a second interface 3 at the top. The second interface 3 is connected to a gas-liquid separator 4. The first interface 2 is connected to a first water pump 5 and a second water pump 6 through pipelines. The first water pump 5 and the second water pump 6 are each connected to the fermenter body 1 through a return pipeline 7. A Venturi mixer 8 is installed on the return pipeline 7. The gas-liquid separator 4 is connected to the Venturi mixer 8 through a pipeline.
[0018] In this embodiment, a circular guide tube 9 is fixedly installed inside the fermenter body 1. The circular guide tube 9 is open at both the top and bottom, forming a descending channel 10 inside the circular guide tube 9. An ascending channel 11 is formed between the outer wall of the circular guide tube 9 and the inner wall of the fermenter body 1. Corresponding to the ascending channel 11, an air inlet is provided at the bottom of the fermenter body 1, and the air inlet is connected to a compressed air source through a pipeline. Corresponding to the descending channel 10, a pipeline is connected at the bottom of the fermenter body 1 to the first water pump 5 and the second water pump 6.
[0019] In this embodiment, the gas-liquid separator 4 is provided with an exhaust port 12.
[0020] In this embodiment, a static mixer (not shown in the figure) is installed on the pipeline between the Venturi mixer 8 and the fermentation tank body 1. The static mixer has a better mixing effect than a traditional gas nozzle, which can improve the mixing effect of oxygen in compressed air, increase the oxygen partial pressure in the fermentation broth, increase the fermentation intensity, and thus reduce production costs.
[0021] The circulation power of this invention is provided by gas lift and water pump forced circulation force. Its circulation effect is better than that of existing airlift fermenters, which can reduce the amount of compressed air used and save compressed air costs.
[0022] This invention features a gas-liquid separator 4, used for gas-liquid separation after foam formation in the fermentation broth. A Venturi mixer 8 extracts air bubbles and gas from the separator 4, promoting gas-liquid separation, and returns the separated gas to the fermentation broth. By combining the gas-liquid separator with the Venturi mixer's suction function, this invention rapidly breaks down the air bubbles generated during fermentation, increasing the loading coefficient of the fermenter from 50%-60% in conventional airlift fermenters to 80%-90%, thereby improving fermentation efficiency and reducing fixed asset investment and fermentation costs.
[0023] This invention features two external circulation systems, a first water pump 5 and a second water pump 6, which can operate independently. Each external circulation system is equipped with various sensors for real-time monitoring of the fermentation system's operation. Even if a sensor in one external circulation system fails, the other system can continue operating normally without requiring shutdown for maintenance, thus maintaining continuous operation of the fermentation system for extended periods without affecting normal production. The external circulation system consists of water pumps, a Venturi mixer, various sensors, and piping; a static mixer can also be added.
[0024] During operation, an air nozzle is installed at the air inlet at the bottom of the fermenter body. Compressed air is injected into the fermentation liquid inside the fermenter body through the air nozzle. The air velocity injected from the air nozzle can reach 250-300 m / s, causing the air to form tiny bubbles. These tiny bubbles mix thoroughly with the fermentation liquid to form a gas-liquid mixture. Due to the presence of bubbles, the density of the gas-liquid mixture decreases. At the same time, the kinetic energy of the compressed air jet also causes the liquid inside the fermenter body to move upward along the rising channel. When the gas-liquid mixture rises to the upper liquid surface inside the fermenter body, some bubbles break, and gas is discharged into the upper space. The fermentation liquid that has discharged some gas has a reduced gas content and increased density, and begins to move downward along the descending channel to the bottom of the fermenter body, and then re-enters the rising channel. This cycle repeats, achieving continuous circulation of the liquid inside the fermenter. During this process, the Venturi mixer extracts bubbles and gas from the top of the fermenter body through the gas-liquid separator, promoting gas-liquid separation and recovering some of the gas. The first or / and second water pump pumps a portion of the returned fermentation liquid from the bottom of the fermenter body into the Venturi mixer, where it mixes with the collected bubbles and gases. Fresh compressed air is then introduced, and the mixture passes through a static mixer to promote efficient mixing of gas and liquid. The resulting gas-liquid mixture is then introduced into the rising channel.
[0025] Similarly, it should be understood that, in order to simplify this disclosure and aid in understanding one or more of the various aspects of the invention, in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this method of disclosure should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, the inventive aspect lies in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into that detailed description, wherein each claim itself is a separate embodiment of the invention.
[0026] Those skilled in the art will understand that modules in the device of the embodiments can be adaptively changed and placed in one or more devices different from that embodiment. Modules, units, or components in the embodiments can be combined into a single module, unit, or component, and further, they can be divided into multiple sub-modules, sub-units, or sub-components. Except where at least some of such features and / or processes or units are mutually exclusive, any combination can be used to combine all features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) and all processes or units of any method or device so disclosed. Unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by an alternative feature that serves the same, equivalent, or similar purpose.
[0027] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of this invention and form different embodiments.
[0028] It should be noted that the above embodiments are illustrative of the present invention and not restrictive, and that those skilled in the art can devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses should not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in the claims. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several different elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, and third, etc., does not indicate any order. These words can be interpreted as names.
[0029] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. An airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation, comprising a fermenter body, characterized in that: The fermenter body has a first interface at the bottom and a second interface at the top. The second interface is connected to a gas-liquid separator. The first interface is connected to a first water pump and a second water pump via pipelines. The first and second water pumps are each connected to the fermenter body via return pipelines. A Venturi mixer is installed on the return pipelines. The gas-liquid separator is connected to the Venturi mixer via pipelines. A circular guide tube is fixed inside the fermenter body. The circular guide tube is open at both the top and bottom, forming a downward channel inside the circular guide tube. An upward channel is formed between the outer wall of the circular guide tube and the inner wall of the fermenter body. Corresponding to the upward channel, an air inlet is provided at the bottom of the fermenter body. The air inlet is connected to a compressed air source via a pipeline.
2. The airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas-liquid separator is equipped with an exhaust gas outlet.
3. The airlift fermenter for continuous fermentation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas-liquid separator is connected to two Venturi mixers via pipelines.