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US 11,034,930 B2Granted
Gas-fed fermentation reactors, systems and processes utilizing gas/liquid separation vessels
AssigneeCalysta, Inc.
InventorsLuan Thanh Nguyen, Joshua A. Silverman, Graham Ian Aylen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating inner loop reactor which utilize nonvertical pressure reduction zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.
Claims20
A process for stimulating production of biomass comprising:
- flowing through a loop section of a loop reactor, a multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium;
- introducing a nutrient into the multi-phase mixture;
- separating the multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium into a gas phase and a liquid phase in a gas/liquid separation vessel of the loop reactor by:
- flowing the multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium into a lower portion of the gas/liquid separation vessel through an inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel having a shape of an oblique conical frustum, including a lowermost edge and having an increasing diameter in a direction of flow of the multi-phase mixture through the inlet side section;
- and
- flowing the multi-phase mixture through an intermediate section located between an outlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel and the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the intermediate section having a constant diameter and including a lowermost edge, the lowermost edge of the inlet side section and the lowermost edge of the intermediate section contacting a common plane;
- and
- removing the liquid phase from an outlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel and delivering the removed liquid phase to an inlet of the loop section.
5 more elements
A process for stimulating production of biomass comprising:
- flowing through a loop section of a loop reactor, a multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium;
- introducing a nutrient into the multi-phase mixture;
- separating, in a gas/liquid separation vessel having a longitudinal axis and that is an element of the loop reactor, the multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium into a gas phase and a liquid phase by:
- flowing the multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium into a lower portion of the gas/liquid separation vessel through an inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel having a length La measured along the longitudinal axis of the gas/liquid separation vessel, a shape of an oblique conical frustum and an increasing diameter in a direction of flow of the multi-phase mixture through the inlet side section;
- and
- flowing the multi-phase mixture through an intermediate section located between an outlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel and the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the intermediate section having a constant diameter and a length Li measured along the longitudinal axis of the gas/liquid separation vessel, La being greater than Li;
- and
- removing the liquid phase from an outlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel and delivering the removed liquid phase to an inlet of the loop section.
5 more elements
A process for stimulating production of biomass comprising:
- flowing through a substantially horizontal section of a loop reactor, a multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium;
- introducing a nutrient into the multi-phase mixture;
- separating the multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium into a gas phase and a liquid phase in a gas/liquid separation vessel of the loop reactor by:
- flowing the multi-phase mixture of a gas and a liquid culture medium into a lower portion of the gas/liquid separation vessel through an inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel having a lowermost edge, a shape of an oblique conical frustum and an increasing diameter in a direction of flow of the multi-phase mixture through the inlet side section;
- and
- flowing the multi-phase mixture through an intermediate section located between an outlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel and the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel, the outlet side section including a lowermost edge and the intermediate section having a constant diameter and a lowermost edge, the lowermost edge of the intermediate section, the lowermost edge of the outlet side section and the lowermost edge of the inlet side section contacting a common plane;
- and
- removing the liquid phase from an outlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel and delivering the removed liquid phase to an inlet of the substantially horizontal section.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.