Photobioreactor structure with conical ends, and method for manufacturing such a photobioreactor

Abstract

The invention relates to a photobioreactor structure (10) comprising: - a transparent enclosure (E); - a lower end part (I) and / or an upper end part (S) configured to be connected to the enclosure (E); and at least one connecting part (RI, RS), characterised in that the lower end part (I) and / or the upper end part (S) comprises: - a proximal portion (PP) having a connecting portion that co-operates with the connecting part (RI, RS) and the transparent enclosure (E); and - a distal portion (PD) comprising a distal end (AP), and in that the proximal portion (PP) comprises at least one bypass opening (D1, D2, D3, D4) provided with a bypass structure, and the distal end (AP) comprises at least one mouth opening (E1, S1) provided with a mouth structure. The invention also relates to a housing unit (M) and to a method based on such a structure.

Description

Photobioreactor structure with conical ends, and method of manufacturing such a photobioreactor

[0001] The invention relates to the field of photobioreactor structures.

[0002] This type of bioreactor is used for the cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms such as green algae or red algae. Thus, it is necessary to provide either internal lighting for the bioreactor or external lighting with a generally transparent enclosure.

[0003] In the prior art, photobioreactor structures have been provided with a one-piece transparent cylindrical enclosure with a rounded bottom, and a rounded ceiling.

[0004] In use, it is necessary to be able to easily open the enclosure, particularly to fill it with culture medium or to clean it. Thus, several bioreactor structures offer a removable lid closing the upper end.

[0005] Furthermore, in use, it is advantageous to provide, in certain cases, bypasses to implement recirculation of the medium, take samples from the bioreactor enclosure, or inject fluids without completely opening the bioreactor.

[0006] This requires holes to be made by drilling into the transparent enclosure, which involves a complex manufacturing process.

[0007] Furthermore, these derivations are generally fixed, and difficult to adapt to the different needs of several users.

[0008] Additionally, the shape of bioreactor vessels needs improvement. Complex shapes and convolutions in a stirred environment can lead to lower yields because cells get stuck in the corners and convolutions.

[0009] A first objective of the present invention is to propose a photobioreactor structure that is easy and quick to manufacture and assemble.

[0010] A second objective is to propose a structure allowing several possible derivation configurations.

[0011] A third objective is to propose a tank shape that limits yield reductions and cell losses.

[0012] To achieve these objectives, the invention proposes a photobioreactor structure comprising:- a transparent enclosure of prismatic shape, in particular cylindrical, the lower base and / or the upper base of which are open;- a lower end piece and / or an upper end piece configured to be connected to said lower and / or upper base; and- at least one connecting piece for connecting said lower and / or upper end piece to said lower and / or upper base, in a sealed manner,characterized in that said lower and / or upper end piece comprises:- a proximal portion of prismatic shape, in particular cylindrical, having a connecting part cooperating with said connecting piece and the transparent enclosure;and- a distal portion of pyramidal or preferably conical shape, the base of which is continuous with the proximal portion, and comprising a distal end,and in that the proximal portion comprises at least one bypass orifice equipped with a bypass structure, and the distal end comprises at least one mouthpiece orifice equipped with a mouthpiece structure.;

[0013] Advantageously, the cylindrical enclosure connected to one or two end pieces facilitates assembly by a simple connection using the connecting piece. In addition, the majority of the tank is made in a cylindrical shape that is easy to manufacture. Furthermore, a cylindrical shape facilitates observation of the cell culture in several directions in space, in comparison to a parallelepiped or cubic shape for example.

[0014] Additionally, the bypass and mouthpiece structures can be selected or closed to have a bypass configuration specific to each user.

[0015] In addition, the prismatic or conical shape of the end helps limit cell loss in the bottoms or corners. These cells can be drawn towards the apex and pushed towards the middle of the body, for example for the upper end, or drawn into the draw, for example for the lower end.

[0016] According to one variant, the bypass structure is configured to receive at least one of:- gas injectors inserted into the end piece;- at least one probe inserted into the end piece; and- at least one liquid injector connected to the bypass structure

[0017] Gas injectors allow the medium to be agitated using a very specific bubbling system. The probe allows the detection of physicochemical characteristics or properties of the culture medium. The liquid injector allows for a sterile circuit to be provided for injecting liquid into the medium without opening the reactor, thereby limiting the risk of contamination.

[0018] According to one variant, the photobioreactor structure comprises:- the transparent enclosure which has a cylindrical shape, the lower and upper bases of which are open;- the lower end piece configured to be connected to said lower base; and- the upper end piece configured to be connected to said upper base; and- two connecting pieces for connecting the end pieces to said bases in a sealed manner.

[0019] This allows for a reactor that is easy to produce in several series.

[0020] According to one variant, the lower end piece and / or the upper end piece is of metallic type, in particular stainless steel.

[0021] This allows the holes and branch structures to be put in place by drilling and welding.

[0022] The invention further relates to a lower end piece for a photobioreactor structure according to the invention.

[0023] Another object of the invention relates to an upper end piece for a photobioreactor structure according to the invention.

[0024] The invention further relates to a kit for mounting a photobioreactor structure according to the invention, comprising:- the transparent enclosure;- the lower end piece and / or the upper end piece; and- said connecting piece.

[0025] This makes it easier to transport the photobioreactor.

[0026] The invention also relates to a piece of furniture for a photobioreactor structure according to the invention, comprising:- an enclosure support having a first circular receiving structure, receiving the enclosure; and- an end support having a second circular receiving structure, receiving the lower end piece and / or the upper end piece.

[0027] This allows for a simplified holding system that leaves most of the photobiorector visible for visual checks.

[0028] According to one variant, the piece of furniture comprises the photobioreactor structure according to the invention, and lighting means.

[0029] Another subject of the invention relates to a method for assembling a photobioreactor structure according to the invention, comprising the following steps: - putting the transparent enclosure in place; - connecting the lower end piece and / or the upper end piece to said lower and / or upper base of the enclosure, by means of said connecting piece.

[0030] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which: - schematically illustrates a view in space of a photobioreactor structure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; - schematically illustrates a front view of a piece of furniture according to the invention comprising the photobioreactor structure of the ; - schematically illustrates a front view of a lower end piece of the photobioreactor structure of the ; - schematically illustrates a top view of the lower end piece of the.

[0031] The invention firstly concerns the general structure of the photobioreactor. The structure comprises a cylindrical enclosure E, the lower base and / or the upper base of which are open. The enclosure E is used in a vertical position so that the main axis of the cylinder is vertical.

[0032] The structure further comprises a lower end piece I configured to be connected to said lower base by means of a lower connecting piece RI.

[0033] The structure further comprises an upper end piece S configured to be connected to said upper base by means of an upper connecting piece RS.

[0034] The connection is made with an I / S end piece which can be slightly larger or smaller, or of the same size (here diameter) as the corresponding part of the enclosure E. The RI, RS connection piece is configured as appropriate for a watertight connection.

[0035] According to the invention, the lower end piece I comprises a proximal portion PP and a distal portion PD better visible in.

[0036] The proximal portion PP is cylindrical in shape. It comprises a connecting part cooperating with said connecting part RI / RS and the transparent enclosure E to close the corresponding opening of the enclosure E in a sealed manner.

[0037] The distal portion PD is conical in shape. The base of this cone is continuous with the cylindrical proximal portion PP. This cone has a distal end AP, in the form of an apex (best seen at).

[0038] The lower end piece I may be of metallic type, for example stainless steel. Other materials may of course be considered within the scope of the invention, such as in particular plastic materials or structures produced by 3D printing.

[0039] Likewise, the upper end piece S comprises a proximal portion PP and a distal portion PD, preferably with the same characteristics as those detailed above.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the invention, said distal end AP comprises at least one mouthpiece orifice E1, S1 at the apex. The mouthpiece orifice may be equipped with a mouthpiece structure. These are in particular the upper and lower distal ends AP.

[0041] Furthermore, the proximal portion PP comprises at least one bypass orifice D1, D2, D3, D4 in a lateral position, or even several angularly spaced bypass orifices. The bypass orifices D1, D2, D3, D4 are equipped with bypass structures, better visible in figures 3 and 4. Pumps P1, P2 can also be provided.

[0042] In particular, the lower end piece I comprises a first set of several angularly spaced bypass ports, configured to receive gas injectors G inserted into the end piece. In the illustrated variant, there are 4 gas injectors arranged around the photobioreactor structure.

[0043] Furthermore, the lower end piece I comprises at least one bypass orifice configured to receive a probe, for example a pH probe, inserted into the end piece I.

[0044] In addition, a D2 bypass can be provided, connected to a liquid injector, by a sterile circuit allowing liquid to be injected into the medium without opening the reactor, limiting the risk of contamination. The liquid injector can be connected via an EV solenoid valve.

[0045] The invention also relates to a lower end piece I, and an upper end piece S as described above, as well as a corresponding mounting kit.

[0046] In use, the photobioreactor structure is arranged in a specific piece of furniture M, for example a cabinet, equipped with lighting means L, such as light strips comprising LEDs. The piece of furniture M may comprise panels and preferably a door. Thus, the continuous lighting of the photobioreactor can take place in the piece of furniture M without disturbing the outside of the piece of furniture M.

[0047] The cabinet M comprises a speaker support SE allowing the speaker E to be easily held in the cabinet M; and an end support SI allowing the end piece, here lower I, to be held in the cabinet M.

[0048] For this purpose, the speaker stand SE comprises a first circular receiving structure, receiving the speaker E. The first receiving structure can be removable, into two semicircles for example, with the semicircular parts being fixed by a hinge. Thus, this first receiving structure is opened to place the speaker E within it before closing it.

[0049] Furthermore, the end support SI comprises a second circular receiving structure, receiving the lower end piece I. The lower end piece I can be inserted therein by the tip, and be held there by the weight of the photobioreactor structure and the strength of the second receiving structure.

[0050] This type of M furniture serves as a support for control devices, monitoring devices or others, to participate in the operation of the photobioreactor.

[0051] We can also consider a piece of furniture in the form of strand supports without panels or doors.

[0052] The assembly of the photobioreactor structure is done in two main steps.

[0053] In a first step, the lower end piece I must be connected to said lower base of the enclosure E, by means of said lower connecting piece RI.

[0054] In a second step, the upper end piece S must be connected to the upper base of the enclosure E, by means of the said upper connecting piece RS.

[0055] Once the photobioreactor structure is assembled, all that remains is to insert it into the cabinet M. For this purpose, the enclosure holder SE can be opened to place the enclosure E. Then, the apex of the lower end piece I can be placed in the end holder SI.

[0056] Now regarding the arrangement, it can be adapted for a photobioreactor described previously, or for a bioreactor in the broad sense.

[0057] Thus, the bioreactor includes enclosure E, a recirculation circuit RC, and a recirculation pump P1.

[0058] The enclosure E comprises the lower end I having at least one outlet S1 for liquids (namely here the mouth S1); and an upper end S having at least one inlet D1 for liquids (namely here at the bypass orifice D1).

[0059] In particular, said outlet S1 has a central position at the center of the apex of the lower end I, relative to the gas injectors G which have a peripheral position. The gas injectors G are preferably gas diffusers, diffusing for example bubbles of less than 500µm. We can speak of microbubbling in the context of this part of the invention.

[0060] In the illustrated variant, the mouth orifice E1 is used to evacuate the gas injected into the enclosure E, as well as the foam created by microbubbling. The mouth orifice E1 also allows for overflow collection thanks to the injection of medium via the bypass orifice D2 (continuous collection). The mouth orifice E1 overflows into a sterilizable container, the gas is evacuated from this container through a filter.

[0061] Since enclosure E is cylindrical in shape, the gas injectors G are angularly spaced in enclosure E around the central axis of the cylindrical shape. There are at least four gas injectors G. This allows diffusion across the entire bioreactor of, for example, 200 mm in diameter. Each diffuser diffuses over a quarter of the enclosure's surface area of ​​revolution.

[0062] An individual injector device may be considered that can be inserted into the enclosure container. The injector and / or the injector gas inlet may or may not pass through a wall of the enclosure. Such an injector device may be in the shape of a ring or an arc of a circle.

[0063] The recirculation circuit RC is connected to said inlet D1 and said outlet S1. It allows liquid to be recirculated in a pipe of small diameter compared to enclosure E. This pipe measures, for example, 20mm in diameter.

[0064] The recirculation pump P1 is connected to the outlet S1 and to the lower part of the recirculation circuit RC.

[0065] The upper part of the RC recirculation circuit is connected to the D1 input at the top of enclosure E.

[0066] According to the invention, the recirculation pump P1 is configured to produce a flow of liquid FL from said outlet S1 to said inlet D1 so that the flow of liquid FL in the enclosure E has an essentially vertical direction from top to bottom.

[0067] In addition, the gas injectors G are arranged at several points of the lower end I. Thus, they allow a vertical gas flow FG to be achieved from bottom to top.

[0068] The combination of the downward flow of liquid FL and the upward flow of gas FG allows for reverse circulation of gas and medium, homogenizing the culture and distribution of cells in enclosure E.

[0069] In the preferred embodiment, the recirculation circuit RC includes a transparent control window F. At this location, the wall is preferably completely transparent over a few centimeters. This window is preferably located at eye level so that it can be checked without bending down. For example, it is in a range between 1.60m and 1.75m from the ground.

[0070] The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing a bioreactor as described above.

[0071] In this process, the recirculation pump P1 is connected to the output S1 of the enclosure E, as well as to the recirculation circuit RC.

[0072] Then the recirculation circuit RC is connected to the input D1 of enclosure E.

[0073] Pump P2 is a pump used to completely or partially drain the photobioreactor.

[0074] Regarding specifically the arrangement of the gas injectors G (diffusers), it can be adapted for a photobioreactor described previously, or for a bioreactor in the broad sense.

[0075] Thus, the bioreactor comprises the enclosure E which comprises an enclosure wall, and a lower end I (here in the form of a separate end piece).

[0076] The lower end I comprises a lateral wall (here the proximal portion PP) and a bottom of a given shape (here the distal portion PD of conical shape).

[0077] The bioreactor further comprises the gas injectors G arranged in the PP side wall of the lower end I.

[0078] According to the invention, the gas injectors are arranged therein so that their gas bubbles rise in the medium while being in contact with the enclosure wall of the enclosure E.

[0079] In order to cover the entire enclosure wall, the gas injectors G are arranged at several points on the PP side wall, here at points angularly spaced around the central axis of the cylindrical enclosure wall.

[0080] In the illustrated variant, the enclosure wall is arranged vertically. The gas bubbles are therefore preferably projected onto it.

[0081] The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing a bioreactor as described above.

[0082] In this method, the gas injectors G are placed in the side wall PP of the lower end I, so that their gas bubbles rise into the medium while being in contact with the enclosure wall of the enclosure E.

Claims

Photobioreactor structure comprising:- a transparent enclosure (E) of prismatic, in particular cylindrical, shape, the lower base and / or the upper base of which are open;- a lower end piece (I) and / or an upper end piece (S) configured to be connected to said lower and / or upper base; and- at least one connecting piece (RI, RS) for connecting said lower (I) and / or upper (S) end piece to said lower and / or upper base, in a sealed manner,in which said lower (I) and / or upper (S) end piece comprises:- a proximal portion (PP) of prismatic, in particular cylindrical, shape, having a connecting part cooperating with said connecting piece (RI, RS) and the transparent enclosure (E);and- a distal portion (PD) of pyramidal or preferably conical shape, the base of which is continuous with the proximal portion (PP), and comprising a distal end (AP),characterized in that the proximal portion (PP) comprises at least one bypass orifice (D1, D2, D3, D4) equipped with a bypass structure, and the distal end (AP) comprises at least one mouthpiece orifice (E1, S1) equipped with a mouthpiece structure.; Photobioreactor structure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bypass structure is configured to receive at least one of:- gas injectors (G) inserted into the end piece;- at least one probe (S) inserted into the end piece (I); and- at least one liquid injector (R1) connected to the bypass structure. Photobioreactor structure according to one of the preceding claims, comprising:- the transparent enclosure (E) which has a cylindrical shape, the lower and upper bases of which are open;- the lower end piece (I) configured to be connected to said lower base; and- the upper end piece (S) configured to be connected to said upper base; and- two connecting pieces (RI, RS) for connecting the end pieces (I, S) to said bases in a sealed manner. Photobioreactor structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower end piece (I) and / or the upper end piece (S) is of metallic type, in particular stainless steel. Lower end piece (I) for a photobioreactor structure according to one of the preceding claims. Upper end piece (S) for a photobioreactor structure according to one of claims 1 to 4. Kit for mounting a photobioreactor structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:- the transparent enclosure (E);- the lower end piece (I) and / or the upper end piece (S); and- said connecting piece. Furniture (M) for a photobioreactor structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:- an enclosure support (SE) having a first circular receiving structure, receiving the enclosure (E); and- an end support (SI) having a second circular receiving structure, receiving the lower end piece (I) and / or the upper end piece. Furniture (M) according to the preceding claim, comprising the photobioreactor structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, and lighting means (L). Method for assembling a photobioreactor structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the following steps: - placing the transparent enclosure (E); - connecting the lower end piece (I) and / or the upper end piece (S) to said lower and / or upper base of the enclosure (E), by means of said connecting piece (RI, RS).

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