Biomass generator

Apparatus for growing bacteria continuously and for harvesting bacteria at predetermined intervals, the apparatus comprising:

• a bacteria growth chamber having a substantially cylindrical side wall;
• a conical bottom;
• an open top with a removable cover;
• fill water, nutrient feed and air inlet ports disposed in the cover;
• a fluid outlet port disposed in the conical bottom;
• and a bacteria harvesting port disposed in the side wall near the top;
• a recirculating pump continuously withdrawing bacteria-containing liquid through an outlet port in the bottom wall of the growth chamber, pressurizing the liquid and reintroducing the pressurized liquid into the growth chamber tangentially through the side wall, thereby establishing a liquid vortex inside the growth chamber;
• an automated nutrient feed metering device communicating with the nutrient feed inlet port to periodically introduce a predetermined quantity of nutrient through the nutrient feed inlet port into the growth chamber at a first predetermined interval;
• an air pump communicating with the growth chamber through an air supply line and the air inlet port to continuously introduce pressurized air into the growth chamber above the vortex;
• a first automated flow control device communicating with the fill water inlet port to periodically introduce fill water into the growth chamber through the fill water inlet port at a second predetermined interval for a first predetermined duration;
• a bacteria harvesting line communicating with and receiving bacteria from the bacteria harvesting port, and a second automated flow control device communicating with the bacteria harvesting line to periodically introduce flush water into the bacteria harvesting line at a third predetermined interval for a second predetermined duration to flush bacteria received from the bacteria harvesting port down the bacteria harvesting line;
• and
• an electrical controller preprogrammed to continuously operate the recirculating pump and air pump during use of the apparatus;
• to actuate the nutrient feed metering device at the first predetermined interval;
• to actuate the first flow control device at the second predetermined interval for the first predetermined duration;
• and to actuate the second flow control device at the third predetermined interval for the second predetermined duration;
• and
• a low voltage electrical power supply delivering electricity to the recirculating pump, the air pump, the nutrient feed metering device and the first and second flow control devices.

An automated method for growing bacteria continuously and for periodically harvesting the bacteria, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing into a bacteria growth chamber an initial charge of water, starter bacteria and nutrient to form a bacteria-containing fluid;
• continuously introducing air into the growth chamber above the bacteria- containing fluid;
• continuously recirculating the bacteria-containing fluid by withdrawing fluid through a bottom outlet in the growth chamber;
• pressurizing the fluid in a recirculation pump;
• and discharging the pressurized fluid back into the growth chamber in a tangential direction to establish a vortex of bacteria-containing fluid inside the growth chamber;
• periodically introducing pulses of fill water into the growth chamber, the pulses being spaced apart at predetermined intervals and each lasting for a predetermined duration;
• periodically harvesting bacteria through a bacteria harvesting port disposed slightly above the vortex in the growth chamber, said periodic harvesting occurring at times corresponding to the pulsed introduction of fill water into the growth chamber;
• periodically introducing a flow of flush water into a drain line communicating with the bacteria harvesting port, the flow of flush water commencing substantially at the same time as the pulses of fill water and being of sufficient quantity and duration to flush bacteria received through the bacteria harvesting port down the drain line to a use site or accumulation vessel;
• and
• periodically introducing predetermined quantities of nutrient into the growth chamber to replenish nutrients consumed by the growing bacteria.

An automated method for continuously growing and harvesting bacteria, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing into a bacteria growth chamber an initial charge of water, starter bacteria and nutrient to form a bacteria-containing fluid;
• continuously introducing air into the growth chamber above the bacteria-containing fluid;
• continuously recirculating the bacteria-containing fluid by withdrawing fluid through a bottom outlet in the growth chamber;
• pressurizing the fluid in a recirculation pump;
• and discharging the pressurized fluid back into the growth chamber in a tangential direction to establish a vortex of bacteria-containing fluid inside the growth chamber;
• continuously introducing fill water into the growth chamber;
• continuously harvesting bacteria through a bacteria harvesting port disposed slightly above the vortex in the growth chamber;
• continuously introducing a flow of flush water into a drain line communicating with the bacteria harvesting port, the flow of flush water being sufficient quantity to flush bacteria received through the bacteria harvesting port down the drain line to a use site or accumulation vessel;
• and
• periodically introducing predetermined quantities of nutrient into the growth chamber to replenish nutrients consumed by the growing bacteria.