Gas-fed fermentation reactors, systems and processes utilizing gas/liquid separation vessels

A system for stimulating production of biomass comprising:

• a loop reactor, the loop reactor including:
• a fluid moving device having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the fluid moving device in fluid communication with an outlet of a substantially vertical downflow zone;
• a loop section including an outlet and an inlet, the inlet of the loop section in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid moving device;
• a substantially vertical upflow zone including an outlet and an inlet, the inlet of the substantially vertical upflow zone in fluid communication with the outlet of the loop section;
• and
• a gas/liquid separation vessel having a longitudinal axis and including:
• an outlet and an inlet, the inlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel located in a lower portion of the gas/liquid separation vessel and in fluid communication with the outlet of the substantially vertical upflow zone, the outlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel in fluid communication with an inlet of the substantially vertical downflow zone;
• an intermediate section between the outlet and the inlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the intermediate section having a constant diameter equal to D;
• an outlet side section on one side of the intermediate section, the outlet side section including the outlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel;
• and
• an inlet side section on a side of the intermediate section opposite the outlet side section, the inlet side section including the inlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the inlet side section having a shape of an oblique conical frustum and having an increasing diameter in a direction of fluid flow through the inlet side section.