Dynamic Fermentation Apparatus for Bacterial Cellulose Core-Shell Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bacterial cellulose fermentation technologies, particularly dynamic fermentation, struggle to produce composite materials with controllable shapes and complete airtight coatings, limiting their industrial applications and commercialization prospects.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic fermentation apparatus comprising two rollers and heating guide plates within a fermentation culture container, allowing for adjustable gap distances and rotation directions, enables the production of bacterial cellulose composites with core-shell structures through dynamic coating, facilitating controllable shape and size production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dynamic fermentation is used to produce bacterial cellulose composites, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates (inability to control shape and size)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic fermentation with rotating rollers that can be adjusted in speed, direction, and gap distance. The rollers rotate during fermentation to enable complete coating of core materials while maintaining controllable shape and size, thus improving both productivity and manufacturing precision simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The fermentation apparatus integrates multiple functions: it performs both static fermentation for composite formation and dynamic coating for shape control. The same apparatus can produce different shaped composites by adjusting roller parameters, making it universally applicable for various product requirements
2Device complexity
If conventional dynamic fermentation with paddle stirring is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates (only granular composites can be produced)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static paddle stirring with dynamic rotating rollers that can be precisely controlled. The rollers rotate during fermentation to enable complete coating of core materials, transforming the fermentation process from producing only granular composites to producing composites with controlled shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The fermentation process is segmented into distinct phases: core material placement, dynamic coating phase with rotating rollers, and final composite formation. This segmentation allows precise control over the coating process while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall apparatus design
3Manufacturing precision
If rotating disc fermentor is used to produce film-shaped bacterial cellulose, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent's rotating roller apparatus is more versatile than the rotating disc fermentor. While the disc fermentor can only produce disc-shaped films, the roller apparatus can produce various shapes (spheres, cylinders, irregular shapes) by adjusting core materials and roller parameters, achieving better manufacturing precision with comparable device complexity
4Manufacturing precision
If mold passes through rotating shaft to obtain special-shaped bacterial cellulose, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates (cannot achieve complete airtight coating)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic rotating rollers that rotate during fermentation to coat core materials. The rotation ensures complete coverage of all surfaces including hard-to-reach areas, achieving both special shapes and complete airtight coating simultaneously, thus improving both manufacturing precision and reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus simplifies the production of bacterial cellulose composites with controllable shapes and sizes, suitable for industrial use, enhancing their applications in biomedicine and food industries while ensuring biocompatibility and biosafety without toxic solvents, and allowing for varied layered structures.
Implementation Method 1
bacterial cellulose is a natural cellulose obtained by microbial fermentation, and is a polymer compound formed by connecting glucose with β-1,4-glycosidic chains
Implementation Method 2
two heating guide plates arranged in the fermentation culture container
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for producing a bacterial cellulose composite having a core-shell structure by dynamic fermentation are described. The apparatus comprises a fermentation culture container and two rollers and two heating guide plates arranged in the fermentation culture container. The apparatus can realize dynamic fermentation and coating, and can obtain a bacterial cellulose composite material with controllable shape and size, good biocompatibility and safety.