Movable Cellulose Carrier for Bubble-Free Cultivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing cellulose layer structures from bacterial nanocellulose are inefficient in terms of mechanical strength, cost, and time, due to challenges in controlling gas bubbles and nutrient supply during the dynamic cultivation process.
Innovation Solution
A movable cellulose carrier design that allows for adaptation to changing conditions, combined with a floating mechanism to prevent gas bubbles and ensure consistent nutrient supply, facilitating the production of high-quality cellulose layer structures using a simple batch process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a dynamic cultivation process with continuous circulation is used, then nutrient supply to microorganisms is improved, but gas bubble formation and layer separation occur reducing mechanical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The cellulose carrier is designed to be movable relative to the container, allowing it to adapt its position dynamically during cultivation. This dynamic adjustment prevents gas bubble accumulation and layer separation while maintaining continuous nutrient supply through the circulation system, thereby preserving mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable carrier design incorporates feedback mechanisms that respond to changing cultivation conditions. As the culture medium circulates and conditions change, the carrier automatically adjusts its position to optimize nutrient distribution while preventing harmful gas bubble formation, resolving the contradiction between nutrient supply and mechanical strength.
2Strength
If complex control and regulation systems are implemented, then gas bubble formation is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cellulose carrier serves itself by automatically adjusting its position in response to cultivation conditions. The movable design allows the carrier to self-regulate nutrient distribution and gas bubble management without requiring complex external control systems, thereby maintaining mechanical strength while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of nutrient distribution, gas bubble management, and mechanical support are merged into a single movable carrier structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex control systems, as the carrier's movement automatically performs multiple functions simultaneously, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining mechanical strength.
3Reliability
If a large quantity of culture medium is used, then ideal growth conditions are established, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable carrier design enables efficient use of culture medium by dynamically optimizing its distribution. As the carrier moves, it ensures that the available medium is effectively circulated and utilized, establishing ideal growth conditions with reduced medium quantity and shorter production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous movement of the carrier ensures uninterrupted nutrient supply and gas exchange throughout the cultivation process. This continuous useful action maintains ideal growth conditions more efficiently, reducing the time required to establish optimal conditions and decreasing overall production time while using less culture medium.
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
This approach enables the cost-effective and time-efficient production of cellulose layer structures with high mechanical strength by ensuring consistent nutrient supply and preventing gas bubbles, resulting in a mechanically strong cellulose layer structure that can be used as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
Implementation Method 1
a float element (23), in particular a disk-shaped float element, made of a foamed plastic, for example polyethylene, polypropylene or polyurethane, and/or in the form of a hollow body filled with gas
Implementation Method 2
The membrane element (21) is formed by a textile fabric, specifically cotton fabric. Alternatively, the membrane element (21) can also be formed by pineapple fiber fleece. Both the material of the membrane element (21) and the material of the float (23), the foamed polyurethane, are permeable to the oxygen-containing gas (17) and to the culture medium (11)
Implementation Method 3
The container (5) also contains oxygen-containing gas (17), which is metabolized by the cellulose-forming bacteria into cellulose
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for producing a cellulose layer structure, comprising a container (5), cellulose-forming microorganisms, a culture medium (11), a gas (17), and a cellulose support (13), wherein the container (5) is at least partially filled with the culture medium (11), the cellulose support (13) is in contact with the culture medium (11), and the arrangement (1) is configured such that a cellulose layer structure (15) forms on the cellulose support (13) through the interaction of the microorganisms, the culture medium (11), and the gas (17). According to the invention, the cellulose support (13) is configured as a cellulose support (13) that is movable relative to the container (5).