Method for improving transfer in a biological reaction chamber

• US 20030170884A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Institut francais de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer
• Original Assignee: Institut francais de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer
• Inventors: Pruvost, Jeremy, Leguedes, Roland, Muller- Feuga, Arnaud, Legrand, Jack, Legentilhomme, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 6,815,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/292.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/06 Tubular C12M23/08, C12M23/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/24 Gas permeable parts
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/24 Draft tube C12M29/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/08 by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of improving the transfer in an annular biological reaction chamber defined by coaxial inner and outer walls (11, 12) and in which there flows a liquid reaction medium containing a culture of microorganisms or of cells from vegetable or animal macroorganisms in suspension. At least one of the walls is an exchange wall enabling gaseous or liquid matter to be transferred or allowing light to pass through. The reaction medium is subjected to a turbulent primary flow that is helical and that under the action of centrifugal force creates rotary secondary vortices so as to encourage renewal of the culture in the vicinity of the exchange wall.

Claims

1. / A method of improving the yield of a biological reactor comprising at least one annular biological reaction chamber (10) defined by two coaxial cylindrical walls (11, 12), at least one of which (11) is an exchange wall allowing gaseous or liquid matter to be transferred or allowing light to pass, and in which there flows axially a liquid reaction medium (14) containing a culture of microorganisms or of isolated cells of vegetable or animal microorganisms in suspension, in which method the culture is subjected to a biosynthesis reaction activated by the matter or the light passing through said exchange wall (11),

the method being characterized by the fact that the reaction medium (14) flowing in said biological reaction chamber (10) is subjected to a primary turbulent flow (19) that is helical about the axis (17) of the chamber (10), which flow under the action of centrifugal force generates rotary secondary vortices (20), thereby encouraging the culture to be renewed in the vicinity of the exchange wall (11).

2. / A method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the reaction medium (14) is subjected to a helical turbulent primary flow by introducing the reaction medium at one of the ends of the biological reaction chamber (10) in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis (17) of the chamber and that is offset away from said axis (17).

3. / A method according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the reaction medium (14) is introduced into the biological reaction chamber (10) by means of a duct (15) having an axis (16) that is substantially perpendicular to the axis (17) of the chamber (10), and that is connected tangentially to the outer wall (12) of said chamber (10).

4. / A method according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the internal transverse dimension (d) of the duct (15) in the direction perpendicular to the axis (17) of the biological reaction chamber (10) is no greater than the radial thickness (e) of said chamber (10).