Portable Bioreactor On-Site Microorganism Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing and transporting live bacteria are inefficient, leading to high losses due to stabilization, preservation, storage, and transportation processes, and require expensive equipment and specialized personnel, limiting the density and effectiveness of microbiological products.
Innovation Solution
A portable bioreactor system with a fermentation tank, sensors, control mechanisms, and a controller that allows on-site production of microbiological products, enabling precise control of conditions like temperature, pH, and oxygenation, and reducing the need for downstream decontamination equipment, facilitating higher bacterial density and mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stabilization, preservation, storage and transportation methods are used for live bacteria, then the material can be transported and stored, but a high percentage of bacteria are killed and foreign microorganisms are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary on-site generation of high-density live bacteria using a portable bioreactor, eliminating the need for subsequent stabilization, preservation, storage and transportation that would kill the bacteria. The bacteria are produced just before application, ensuring their viability and effectiveness.
2Productivity
If conventional fermentation equipment is used, then microbiological products can be produced, but expensive equipment and specialized personnel are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a portable bioreactor system that is simpler, more affordable, and easier to deploy than conventional large-scale fermentation equipment. The system is designed for on-site use without requiring expensive infrastructure or specialized operational expertise, making microbiological product production accessible to resource-limited settings.
3Speed
If conventional transportation methods are used for microbiological products, then material can be delivered to application sites, but material volume requirements increase and delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates high-density live bacteria on-site immediately before application, eliminating the need for transportation. This preliminary production action ensures maximum bacterial density and viability while reducing material volume requirements and eliminating delivery time delays.
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 system enables on-site generation of high-density live bacteria, reducing material volume requirements and costs, allowing for efficient, timely, and portable microbiological product delivery directly to application sites without the need for extensive handling or expensive equipment.
Implementation Method 1
systems and methods for assisting user operation of a batch process bioreactor to optimize microbiological growth of a selected microorganism
Data Source
AI summary
A fermentation system includes a fermentation tank, a plurality of sensors operable to measure a plurality of fermentation system parameters, a plurality of mechanisms operable to control the fermentation system parameters, and a controller in electronic communication with the sensors and with the mechanisms. The controller includes a memory, a receiver circuit, a transmitting circuit, and a control circuit. The memory stores a plurality of recipes each defining user operating instructions and parameter settings. The receiver circuit is configured to receive a batch identification code associated in the memory with one of the recipes. The transmitting circuit is configured to communicate the user operating instructions defined by the associated one of the recipes. The control circuit is configured to operate the mechanisms to adjust the fermentation system parameters in accordance with the parameter settings defined by the associated one of the recipes.