Biomass generator

• US 7,081,361 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCH Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCH Corporation
• Inventors: Pearce, Robert Clarence III, Kiplinger, Dale V., Colarusso, Joseph Thomas, Evaro, Jose E., Pruitt, Judith Gayle
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/636,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 435/286.1, 435/286.5, 435/286.7, 435/289.1, 435/309.2, 435/813
• US Class Current: 435/286.5
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/42 Integrated assemblies, e.g. cassettes or cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/00 Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/12 of temperature controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/813 Continuous fermentation

Abstract

A biomass generator useful for continuously growing and withdrawing bacteria to be used in a desired beneficial application, the generator having a bacteria growth chamber; water and nutrient inlet ports; upper and lower outlet ports; a recirculating pump withdrawing and reintroducing fluid to establish a vortex in the growth chamber while controlling foaming and pump cavitation; a low pressure air inlet line discharging air inside the growth chamber above the vortex; a fluid discharge line receiving bacteria-containing fluid from the upper outlet port of the growth chamber; a flush line discharging wash water into the fluid discharge line; and an electrical controller cooperating with solenoid-operated valves and a feeder mechanism to periodically introduce water and nutrients into the chamber, thereby simultaneously causing bacteria-containing fluid to be discharged from the growth chamber through the upper outlet port. A method for growing bacteria using the subject apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for continuously growing and harvesting bacteria, the apparatus comprising:

a bacteria growth chamber having a substantially cylindrical side wall;

a conical bottom;

an open top with a removable cover;

fill water, nutrient feed and air inlet ports disposed in the cover;

a fluid outlet port disposed in the conical bottom; and

a bacteria harvesting port disposed in the side wall near the top, said bacteria harvesting port communicating with a bacteria harvesting line;

a recirculation pump continuously withdrawing bacteria-containing liquid through an outlet port in the bottom wall of the growth chamber, pressurizing the liquid and reintroducing the pressurized liquid into the growth chamber tangentially through the side wall, thereby establishing a liquid vortex inside the growth chamber;

an automated nutrient feed metering device communicating with the nutrient feed inlet port to periodically introduce a predetermined quantity of nutrient through the nutrient feed inlet port into the growth chamber at a predetermined interval;

an air pump communicating with the growth chamber through an air supply line and the air inlet port to continuously introduce pressurized air into the growth chamber above the vortex;

at least one flow control device communicating with the fill water inlet port to continuously introduce fill water into the growth chamber and also communicating with the bacteria harvesting line to flush bacteria received from the bacteria harvesting port down the bacteria harvesting line; and

a low voltage electrical power supply delivering electricity to the recirculating pump, the air pump and the nutrient feed metering device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cabinet in which the bacteria growth chamber, recirculating pump, air pump and nutrient feed metering device are disposed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cabinet has a watertight bottom and a float switch is disposed in the watertight bottom.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the float switch interrupts electrical power to the apparatus whenever water is present in the watertight bottom.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cleanout line disposed between the recirculating pump and the bacteria harvesting line, and a valve disposed in the cleanout line to divert liquid discharged by the recirculating pump into the bacteria harvesting line below the bacteria harvesting port.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hopper supplying nutrient feed to the nutrient feed metering device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air line disposed between the air pump and nutrient feed metering device.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising thermal insulation partitioning the cabinet into a first interior section containing the growth chamber and a second interior section containing the recirculation pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second interior section of the cabinet is vented through at least one of a cabinet wall or a cabinet door.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a temperature controller communicating with the first interior section of the cabinet.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one flow control device bifurcates a flow of fill water and a second stream of flush water.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one flow control device controls both the amount and pressure of water introduced into the growth chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feed metering device comprises a feed cup that is rotatable between an upright feed-receiving position and an inverted feed discharge position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the feed metering device comprises a feed cup that is rotatable to a standby position disposed between the feed-receiving position and the feed discharge position.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nutrient feed metering device is controllable to discharge nutrient feed into the growth chamber once every six hours.