# US 11,898,134 B2 · Reactor having dynamic sparger

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- Number: US 11,898,134 B2
- Document ID: US11898134B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/051,295
- Filed: 2022-10-31
- Published: 2023-05-04
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-03
- Assignees: LanzaTech, Inc.
- Applicants: LanzaTech, Inc.
- Inventors: Mayur Sathe; Joss Anton Coombes; Robert John Conrado; Gregory Joseph Morin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898134B2

## CPC

- C12M 21/12: {for producing fuels or solvents (C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00)}
- C12M 29/06: {Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26)}
- B01F 23/23115: {characterised by the way in which the bubbling devices are mounted within the receptacle}
- B01F 23/23123: {consisting of rigid porous or perforated material}
- B01F 23/231265: {being tubes, tubular elements, cylindrical elements or set of tubes}
- B01F 23/2373: for obtaining fine bubbles, i.e. bubbles with a size below 100 µm
- B01F 25/3131: {with additional mixing means other than injector mixers, e.g. screens, baffles or rotating elements}
- B01F 25/31322: {used simultaneously}
- B01F 25/313311: {Porous injectors}
- B01F 35/55: {Baffles; Flow breakers (B01F35/531 takes precedence)}
- C12M 27/20: {Baffles; Ribs; Ribbons; Auger vanes}
- C12M 27/22: {Perforated plates, discs or walls}
- C12M 23/40: {Manifolds; Distribution pieces (fluid transfer means B01L3/563)}
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- 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}
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Systems and methods relating to dynamic spargers for generating fine bubbles within reactors such as biological and chemical reactors. A sparger system is positioned within a reactor and comprises a support plate, multiple annular shrouds engaged with the support plate, and spargers positioned within the annular shrouds defining a gap between an interior surface of the annular shroud and an exterior surface of the corresponding sparger. Liquid flows through the defined gap between an interior surface of the annular shroud and an exterior surface of the sparger. Acceleration of the liquid through the gap shears bubbles at the exterior surface of the sparger creating bubbles or fine bubbles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reactor and sparger system for injecting bubbles into a liquid comprising:
a reactor;
a support plate;
a plurality of annular shrouds engaged with the support plate; and
a plurality of spargers positioned within the annular shrouds to define a gap between an interior surface of the annular shroud and an exterior surface of the corresponding sparger:
a plurality of headers engaged with the plurality of spargers wherein the plurality of spargers are configured to receive a gas supply from the plurality of headers and the plurality of headers further comprise at least one baffle to disperse a fluid comprising the liquid and the bubbles; and
wherein the support plate, the annular shrouds, and the spargers are positioned within the interior of the reactor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the support plate and the annular shrouds are integrated into a single component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein two or more spargers are positioned within a single annular shroud.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a length of the spargers is at least 10 cm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the gap is from about 1 mm to about 20 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the support plate, the annular shrouds, and the spargers are positioned at a top portion or at a bottom portion of the reactor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid is at least partially recirculated liquid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the support plate further comprises a plurality of perforations.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the annular shrouds are positioned within about 20 degrees of a vertical axis of the reactor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional support plate positioned to form multiple vertical layers within the interior of the reactor, and the at least one additional support plate engaging the plurality of annular shrouds.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the reactor is a bioreactor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the reactor is a bioreactor comprising:
a liquid growth medium;
a substrate comprising at least one C1 carbon source, wherein the plurality of spargers are configured to inject substrate bubbles into the liquid growth medium; and
a culture of at least one microorganism in the liquid growth medium, wherein the culture of at least one microorganism anaerobically ferments the substrate to produce at least one fermentation product.