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US 4,397,953 AGranted
Method and apparatus for anaerobic fermentation
AssigneeProcess Engineering Company S A
InventorsBruno Guazzone, Felix Muller
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AssigneeProcess Engineering Company S A
InventorsBruno Guazzone, Felix Muller
Estimating the term…
Anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms is carried out by a process and with an apparatus wherein fermentation is conducted in a container having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, and between the upper and lower sections an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings. During fermentation, the substrate and microorganisms are recirculated from an outlet in the upper cylindrical section to an inlet in the lower conical section and upward in the container through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to agitate the substrate and microorganisms therein and prevent settling of the microorganisms in the container. The apertured bottom wall serves as the sole means of agitation, and the use of this process and apparatus enables a significant reduction in the usual fermentation period.
A method of submerged anerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, comprising the steps of introducing microorganisms and a substrate for the microorganisms into a lower conical section and an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section;
A method of submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, comprising the steps of introducing microorganisms and a substrate for the microorganisms into a fermentation container having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section and an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section;
An apparatus for submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, consisting essentially of a fermentation container for containing a substrate and microorganisms having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section, a means for withdrawing substrate and microorganisms from the upper cylindrical section through an outlet opening therein, and means for supplying the withdrawn substrate and microorganisms at sufficient velocity and quantity into the lower conical section through an inlet opening therein below the bottom wall to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said apertured bottom wall being the sole means contained by said apparatus for agitation of substrate and microorganisms in said fermentation container.
An apparatus for submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, consisting essentially of a fermentation container for containing a substrate and microorganisms having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section, a means for withdrawing substrate and microorganisms from the upper cylindrical section through an outlet opening therein, and means for supplying the withdrawn substrate and microorganisms at sufficient velocity and quantity into the lower conical section through an inlet opening therein below the bottom wall to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said plurality of openings in the apertured bottom wall having a total opening area equal to the cross-sectional area of said inlet opening in the lower conical section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.