Method and Device for Feeding Gases or Gas Mixtures into a Liquid, Suspension or Emulsion in a Reactor in a Specific Manner

• US 20150056685A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gicon Grossmann Ingenieur Consult GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gicon Grossmann Ingenieur Consult GmbH
• Inventors: Cotta, Fritz, Grossmann, Jochen, Matschke, Martin, Koetz, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 9,732,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/257.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/44 Mixing of ingredients for microbiology, enzymology, in vitro culture or genetic manipulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231 by bubbling mixers with gas or liquid agitation, e.g. with air supply tubes B01F33/40
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/36 Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/12 Pulsatile flow
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/18 External loop; Means for reintroduction of fermented biomass or liquid percolate loop type reactors for chemical or physical processes B01J19/2435
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/24 Recirculation of gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/26 Conditioning fluids entering or exiting the reaction vessel
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 39/00 Means for cleaning the apparatus or avoiding unwanted deposits of microorganisms apparatus for cleaning laboratory receptacles or instruments B01L13/02; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for feeding gases or gas mixtures into a liquid, suspension, or emulsion in a reactor in a specific manner. According to the invention, gases or gas mixtures are fed into a liquid, suspension, or emulsion in a reactor in a specific manner, wherein the gas or gas mixture is fed in a specific amount and/or at defined points in time in one pulse as a gas bubble into a flowing liquid in a tilted reactor system, whereby a pulsation effect is obtained, wherein a driving force is produced by means of an adiabatic relaxation of the fed-in gas or gas mixture, by means of which driving force wall adhesions on the reactor are prevented.

Claims

1. A method for feeding gases or gas mixtures into a flowing liquid, suspension or emulsion in a reactor in a specific manner, characterized in that the gas or gas mixture is fed with a specific amount and/or at defined points in time into a flowing liquid in a tilted reactor system in one burst in the form of a gas bubble causing a pulsation effect, wherein a propulsive force is created by means of an adiabatic expansion of the fed-in gas or gas mixture preventing material from clinging to the walls of the reactor.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid, suspension or emulsion is conveyed in a pulsating fashion.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that gases or gas mixtures with a high internal energy are used.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the gas or gas mixture that is used is compressed, at least partially condensed or at least partially frozen.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid, suspension or emulsion that is conveyed is cooled because of the complete or partial use of the internal energy of the fed-in gas or gas mixture.

6. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the liquid is conveyed in a pulsating fashion because of the complete or partial use of the internal energy of the fed-in gas or gas mixture.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal energy of the gas or gas mixture is used separately, but preferably in a combined manner in a material and energy circulation system in the form of combined heat and power generation.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas or gas mixture, after being fed into the liquid, suspension or emulsion, is partially or completely transformed in the liquid, suspension or emulsion and/or dissolved in the liquid, suspension or emulsion.

9. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas or gas mixture is fed into a photobioreactor with micro-algae.

10. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas or gas mixture includes carbon dioxide.

11. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas or gas mixture is fed in from the bottom of the photobioreactor and ascends vertically through the liquid, suspension or emulsion against the direction of gravity and the direction of flow of the liquid.

12. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fed-in gas amount is 0.00-1.00 liter/s, preferably 0.00-0.10 liters/s, especially preferably 0.00-0.01 liters/s.

13. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowing liquid, suspension or emulsion is pumped against the force of gravity at 0.35-0.50 m/s, preferably at 0.40 m/s.

14. Use of a method according to claim 1 to avoid bio-film buildup in a photobioreactor.

15. Device for carrying out a method according to claim 1, comprising a photobioreactor, wherein apparatus for feeding in the gas or gas mixture is provided at the bottom of the photobioreactor, causing the fed-in gas or gas mixture to ascend vertically through the liquid, suspension or emulsion against the direction of gravity and the direction of flow of the liquid, and a diaphragm pump to convey the liquid, suspension or emulsion in a pulsating fashion that is driven by the internal energy of the gas or gas mixture.

16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that the photobioreactor has an arbitrary geometry, preferably round and especially preferably in the form of a pipe and/or tube/double-tube reactor.

17. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that the photobioreactor is designed as a tube/double-tube reactor with a truncated-cone shape, wherein the tube is helically arranged at an angle vis-a-vis the horizontal plane of 0°

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