Closed system bioreactor apparatus
First Claim
1. A closed system bioreactor apparatus comprising:
- a) one or more flexible tubes capable of containing an aqueous medium;
b) one or more peristaltic rollers operably coupled to the tubes to circulate the medium through the tubes and to remove gas bubbles from the tubes; and
c) a thermal barrier within the one or more tubes to regulate the temperature of the medium, wherein the medium may be alternatively directed above or below the barrier to thermally isolate or thermally expose the medium to the environment.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure concerns an apparatus and system comprising closed bioreactors for aquaculture and harvesting. In certain embodiments, the system may comprise bags with various layers, including a thermal barrier layer, that may be used to contain the aquaculture and/or to thermally regulate the temperature of the aquaculture. The system may comprise various mechanisms for moving fluid within the system, such as a roller type mechanism, and may provide temperature regulation by compartmentalization of the fluid to regulate absorption of solar radiation and/or conductive or emissive heat loss and gain. Various mechanisms may be used to harvest aquatic organisms grown in the apparatus and process them into commercially useful products, such as biodiesel, methane, animal or human food, substrates for polymer synthesis or other chemical products.
231 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A closed system bioreactor apparatus comprising:
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a) one or more flexible tubes capable of containing an aqueous medium;
b) one or more peristaltic rollers operably coupled to the tubes to circulate the medium through the tubes and to remove gas bubbles from the tubes; and
c) a thermal barrier within the one or more tubes to regulate the temperature of the medium, wherein the medium may be alternatively directed above or below the barrier to thermally isolate or thermally expose the medium to the environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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22. A closed system bioreactor apparatus comprising:
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a) two flexible tubes capable of containing an aqueous medium;
b) two peristaltic rollers operably coupled to the tubes to circulate the medium through the tubes;
c) multiple axial vortex inducers vertically arranged within the tubes to provide rotational exposure of the aqueous medium to sunlight; and
d) a first and a second control housing operably coupled to the ends of the tubes to form a biologically closed system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification