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US 11,939,567 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.
Claims29
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, a lowermost edge of each of the inlet, the outlet, the intermediate section, the outlet side section and the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel contact a common plane.
8 more elements
A gas/liquid separation vessel comprising:
- an outlet, an inlet, and a longitudinal axis, the inlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel located in a lower portion of the gas/liquid separation vessel;
- 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, a lowermost edge of each of the inlet, the outlet, the intermediate section, the outlet side section and the inlet side section of the gas/liquid separation vessel contact a common plane.
2 more elements
A gas/liquid separation vessel comprising:
- an outlet, an inlet, and a longitudinal axis lying in a substantially horizontal plane, the inlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel located in a lower portion of the gas/liquid separation vessel;
- 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;
- 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;
- and
- a flow guide in the inlet side section and the intermediate section.
3 more elements
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 a gas/liquid separation vessel;
- 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;
- and
- wherein the gas/liquid separation vessel has a longitudinal axis lying in a substantially horizontal plane and includes:
- 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 loop section, the outlet of the gas/liquid separation vessel in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid moving device;
- 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;
- 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;
- and
- a flow guide in the inlet side section and the intermediate section.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.