Method and apparatus for injecting oxygen into fermentation processes
AssigneePraxair Technology, Inc.
InventorAlan Tat-Yan Cheng
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Abstract
A sparger for delivering fluid comprising a sparger pipe for carrying the fluid from a fluid source and downwardly directed nozzles to direct the delivery of fluid is disclosed. A substantially vertical connection pipe connects the sparger to the nozzles. Also, a method of delivering oxygen to an oxygen-depleted zone in the bottom of the fermenter using the sparger is disclosed.
Claims21
A sparger for delivering fluid comprising
- a) a sparger pipe for carrying the fluid from a fluid source;
- and
- b) downwardly directed nozzles to direct the delivery of fluid.
A method for delivering oxygen-containing fluids to a fermentation vessel having an oxygen-depleted zone and comprising both air spargers and oxygen spargers therein, the method comprises injecting air bubbles through the air spargers at the outer end of the vessel, and injecting oxygen bubbles downwardly through the oxygen spargers at the center of the vessel.
A method for delivery fluid to a fermentation vessel having an oxygen-depleted zone at the bottom of the vessel and comprising a plurality of air spargers and oxygen spargers therein, with at least one air sparger located next to at least one oxygen sparger, the method comprises injecting air bubbles through the air spargers at one position at the bottom of the vessel, and injecting oxygen bubbles downwardly through the oxygen spargers adjacent to air sparger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.