# US 11,078,097 B2 · Process for a fixed film reactor and apparatus related thereto

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- Number: US 11,078,097 B2
- Document ID: US11078097B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/098,161
- Filed: 2018-06-15
- Published: 2020-11-12
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-05
- Assignees: Cambrian Innovation, Inc.
- Applicants: Cambrian Innovation, Inc.
- Inventors: Justin Buck; Matthew Silver
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078097B2

## CPC

- C02F 3/2893: {with biogas recycling}
- C02F 3/006: {Regulation methods for biological treatment}
- C02F 3/2806: {Anaerobic processes using solid supports for microorganisms}
- C02F 3/34: characterised by the microorganisms used
- C12M 21/02: {Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12)}
- C12M 21/04: {for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10)}
- C12M 25/00: {Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings}
- C12M 25/14: {Scaffolds; Matrices (in general C12N5/0068)}
- C12M 25/18: {Fixed or packed bed}
- C12M 29/06: {Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26)}
- C12M 29/24: {Recirculation of gas}
- C02F 3/005: {Combined electrochemical biological processes (aeration by electrolytically produced oxygen bubbles C02F3/202)}
- C02F 2103/365: {from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries)}
- C02F 2203/004: comprising a selector reactor for promoting floc-forming or other bacteria
- C02F 2209/008: comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
- C02F 2209/38: Gas flow rate
- C02F 2303/14: Maintenance of water treatment installations
- C02F 2303/20: Prevention of biofouling
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Exemplary embodiments describe apparatuses and related processes for improving mixing and sheer in a fixed film reactor. One process can include recycling at least a portion of a biogas product through at least one sparger below a fixed film zone in the fixed film reactor at conditions sufficient for mixing and sheering the film from an internal structure within the fixed film zone. Often, a cross-sectional area of the fixed film zone fills at least about 90% of a cross-sectional area of the fixed film reactor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anaerobic fixed film reactor comprising:
a fixed film packing media configured within a zone of a reactor and to allow biological media to anchor and grow, wherein a cross-sectional area of the zone fills at least about 90% of a cross-sectional area of the reactor;
a manifold for receiving re-cycled biogas; and
a plurality of spargers coupled to the manifold and configured for distributing the re-cycled biogas to wastewater below the fixed film packing media, wherein the spargers are further configured to output biogas at a flow rate ranging from 0.1 to 10 cubic meter per hour per square meter of a reactor, horizontal cross-section area for providing turbulence of the wastewater and avoiding formation of undisturbed pockets of the wastewater.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the spargers are further configured to underlie the fixed film packing media.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the fixed film packing media comprises a static packing media.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the fixed film packing media comprises a dynamic packing media.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the biological media comprises methanogenic bacteria.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the biogas comprises methane, by volume or by mole, of about 50% to about 85%.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the biogas comprises methane, by volume or by mole, of about 95%.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the biogas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and heavy hydrocarbons.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating an amount of the re-cycled biogas.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein one or more of the spargers comprises a multi-zone sparger, where each zone of the multi-zone sparger is connected to a separate manifold and configured to allow a different flowrate of the re-cycled biogas to be distributed to a different sub-zone of the reactor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 wherein the biogas comprises nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and less than 1% oxygen gas.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The reactor as in claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the biogas flow rate into the spargers.

### Claim 13

A process for distributing re-cycled biogas in an anaerobic fixed film reactor comprising:
allowing biological media to anchor and grow on a fixed film packing media configured within a zone of a reactor, wherein a cross-sectional area of the zone fills at least about 90% of a cross-sectional area of the reactor;
receiving re-cycled biogas at a manifold;
distributing the re-cycled biogas to wastewater from a plurality of spargers coupled to the manifold and configured below the fixed film packing media; and
outputting biogas at a flow rate ranging from 0.1 to 10 cubic meter per hour per square meter of a reactor, horizontal cross-section area to provide turbulence of the wastewater and avoiding formation of undisturbed pockets of the wastewater.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process as in claim 13 wherein the biological media comprises methanogenic bacteria.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The process as in claim 13 wherein the biogas comprises methane, by volume or by mole, of about 50% to about 95%.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The process as in claim 13 wherein the biogas comprises nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and less than 1% oxygen gas.

### Claim 17

An anaerobic fixed film reactor comprising:
a fixed film packing media configured within a zone of a reactor and to avow biological media to anchor and grow, wherein a cross-sectional area of the zone fills at least about 90% of a cross-sectional area of the reactor;
a manifold for receiving re-cycled biogas; and
a plurality of spargers coupled to the manifold and configured for distributing the re-cycled biogas to wastewater below the fixed film packing media, wherein the spargers are further configured to output biogas at a flow rate ranging from 1 to 100 cubic meter per hour per square meter of a reactor, horizontal cross-section area for creating shearing on the packing media to prevent clogging of the media.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the spargers are further configured to underlie the fixed film packing media.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the fixed film packing media comprises a static packing media.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the fixed film packing media comprises a dynamic packing media.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the biological media comprises methanogenic bacteria.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the biogas comprises methane, by volume or by mole, of about 50% to about 85%.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the biogas comprises methane, by volume or by mole, of about 95%.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the biogas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and heavy hydrocarbons.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating an amount of the re-cycled biogas.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein one or more of the spargers comprises a multi-zone sparger, where each zone of the multi-zone sparger is connected to a separate manifold and configured to allow a different flowrate of the re-cycled biogas to be distributed to a different sub-zone of the reactor.

### Claim 27 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 wherein the biogas comprises nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and less than 1% oxygen gas.

### Claim 28 (depends on 17)

The reactor as in claim 17 further comprising a controller for controlling the biogas flow rate into the spargers.

### Claim 29

A process for distributing re-cycled biogas in an anaerobic fixed film reactor comprising:
allowing biological media to anchor and grow on a fixed film packing media configured within a zone of a reactor, wherein a cross-sectional area of the zone fills at least about 90% of a cross-sectional area of the reactor;
receiving re-cycled biogas at a manifold;
distributing the re-cycled biogas to wastewater from a plurality of spargers coupled to the manifold and configured below the fixed film packing media; and
outputting biogas at a flow rate ranging from 1 to 100 cubic meter per hour per square meter of a reactor; horizontal cross-section area to create shearing on the packing media to prevent clogging of the media.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The process as in claim 29 further comprising outputting biogas at a flow rate ranging from 1 to 100 cubic meter per hour per square meter of a reactor, horizontal cross-section area to create shearing on the packing media to prevent clogging of the media.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The reactor as in claim 29 wherein the biological media comprises methanogenic bacteria.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The reactor as in claim 29 wherein the biogas comprises methane, by volume or by mole, of about 50% to about 95%.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The reactor as in claim 29 wherein the biogas comprises nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and less than 1% oxygen gas.