Method of control of microorganism growth process

Abstract

A control method for operating aqueous microorganism growth processes is disclosed which can maintain viable growth conditions for many types of microorganisms which have heretofore not been easily reproduced in commercially valuable quantities. The primary control parameters are the degree of turbulence in the aqueous growth medium and the scale of the apparatus relative to the scale of the turbulent eddies in vessels which are partially filled with the aqueous medium directly affect conditions which are required for optimum growth: light exposure, nutrient supply, sedimentation rate, bulk temperature, gas exchange rate and cell integrity. These control elements can be cast in terms of the Reynolds number (N.sub.Re) and controlled dimensions of the apparatus (L.sub.K) in relationship to the scales of turbulent eddies to define the dissipation .lambda..sub.K as L.sub.K /L. Alternatively, these can be recognized to show that the delivery of nutrients to the microorganism mass is dependent upon the dissipation rate .epsilon. in the fluid, which allows a definition of L.sub.k to be quantified. The broadest ranges generally useful in this invention are N.sub.Re =2000 to 10.sup.6, preferably 4000 to 250,000; apparatus scale relative to eddy scale is such that the level of fluid in the reaction chamber relative to eddy scale is 10-1:1 preferably 10-1.2:1; and turbulent energy dissipation rate .epsilon. between 10.sup.-3 and 10 W/kg. The invention is particularly useful in controlling growth processes in which the microorganisms are unicellular algae, phytoplankton, issues of vascular plants, tissues of macroalgae, and the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.