DD301484A7 - BIOREACTOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bioreactor for carrying out microbial processes in the laboratory and pilot plant scale and for the development of process-adapted technical bioreactors. The task to develop a simply constructed and easy to handle bioreactor for a variety of biotechnological process variants while adapting to different types of process control is achieved by mutually connected by flanges different functional modules and adapters so that different product volumes or different bioreactor types can be realized. The order of the function modules and adapters among each other is arbitrary and their respective number can not be 1. FIG {bioreactor; Functional modules, interchangeable; Scale-up; biotechnological process variants; Bioreactors; Bioreactor development; Processes, microbial}

Description

Explanation of the essence of the invention

The invention is based on the technical task to develop an easily manageable universally applicable, in its geometry and biotechnological design flexible bioreactor, which can be adapted quickly, easily and optimally to be developed biotechnological process variants.

This applies in particular to the development of continuous microbial processes, the increase of the biomass concentration in the bioreactor as well as the integration and coupling of processing steps into or onto the bioreactor. The microbial processes may be performed under aerobic or anaerobic conditions sterile or non-sterile in one or more stages of the process. The bioprocess engineering design of the bioreactor ensures a uniform distribution of the microorganisms and nutrients over the entire cultivation volume, the adequate supply of biomass with nutrients, the removal or supply of heat, the dissipation of energy, high transport coefficients, variation of the liquid phase mixing, defined guiding of material flows and the variation of the diameter-height ratio enables a safe scale-up.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that different modules and adapters that are prefabricated and can solve different bioengineering tasks are coupled by releasable connections to each other by flanges, the order of the individual modules and adapters is arbitrary and the number of individual modules and Adapter can also be unequal to 1.

Thus, a neck module with an inner diameter-height ratio (D 1 / H 1) of 0.7 to 1, on a bottom flange module, which in its middle part neck for an energy flow input (eg gas) or centrally has a stirrer, 0, which has at its lateral surface at opposite points nozzles arranged. A Flanschadapter with an inner diameter D2, the ring inner surfaces different brackets and recording systems for biochemically effective reactor internals (such as an abutment for a stirrer, for one or more centrally mounted in the reactor tubes of smaller diameter, annular clamping for centric membrane hoses or holding elements for centric fixed disk-shaped Trögerelemente for defined positioning of Mikroorganismenaufwuchsmaterialien), connects the nozzle module with a tempering with an inner diameter-height ratio (D3 / H 3) of 0.3 to 0.5, wooei this has on its outer surface arranged in a known manner tempering , Flanged further is a reactor shot module with an inner diameter-height ratio (D4 / H4) of 0.12 to 0.5 equal to the flange adapter on one or both ring inner surfaces of its connecting flanges recordings for holders and recording systems may have. In particular, holders for such reactor internals (such as, for example, holding elements for centrically fixed disc-shaped carrier elements for the defined positioning of microorganism growth materials) which can receive a fibrous bed or prevent foaming are used here. The lateral surface of the reactor module can be made of corrosion-resistant metal, special gas or plastic. To the reactor shot module, a nozzle module is flanged, which is completed by a nozzle provided Deckelflanschmodul, so that a total of a closed reactor space is formed, which can be subjected to sterilization in the usual way.

The inner diameters D1, D2, D3 and D4 of the individual modules may be different, so that modules of the same inner diameter can be connected to each other and combined with modules of a different inner diameter using design adapted flange adapters, thereby e.g. to allow changed flow conditions in the bioreactor.

Preferably, however, the inner diameters D 1, D 2, D 3 and D 4 are of the same size, while the heights H 1, H 2, H 3 and H 4 can be varied.

Surprisingly, it has been found that obtained by the combination and coupling ability of the prefabricated modules with each other and the variance of the number and bio-technical effect of individual modules, with certain inner diameter-height ratio Bioreaktorvolu..iina various gradations and coupled multiple reactors via connecting pipelines and new biotechnological Effects could be induced. In this case, the realization of such reactor combinations are possible in a simple manner and in a short time, where in a reactor or by coupling several reactors above piping systems to several process stages or several corresponding microbial processes can be developed, tested and transferred to an industrial scale. To ensure a universal ability to combine the prefabricated modules and Flanschadaptor with each other, the flanges of the nozzle module, the tempering, the Reaktorschußmoduls and the end faces of the flange adapter mutually groove or spring, which are also mounted in the Deckelflansch- and Bodenf ianschmodulen. Furthermore, it was found that the residence time of the material system can be optimally adapted to the microbiological process and the resulting sub-current with the aid of the step-adjustable peactor volumes. In addition, it has been found that for bacteria that work in nature (such as nitrification Nitrosomonas and Nitrobucter or methane in the acidification bacteria, acetic acid-forming bacteria and methanogenic bacteria), by the arrangement of the reactor modules and the supply of substrates and Material streams containing oil sources can be produced and obtained at certain points of the reactor for favorable defined reactor zones. Furthermore, it is possible to simultaneously decouple the residence time from the microorganism density and concentration by the use of microorganism growth media in defined areas of the reactor and the connection of substrate and product streams in microbial processes that take place in one or more stages, the life of fixed bed reactors i / .nd to avoid the formation of typical concentration profiles for substrate and product.

In addition, it has been found that by fixing the microorganisms on different support materials and the arrangement of the support materials by means of carrier material receiving devices at a certain distance from the equipped with a stirrer Bodenflanschmodul, the damage to the microorganisms can be largely avoided by high shear forces and thus an outer loop to return the emerging liquid flow in the fixed bed input is unnecessary. As a result, concentration gradients can be reduced, the pH profile leveled and an improvement in product release achieved.

embodiment

The diversifiable bioreactor according to the invention for carrying out experiments for the development, testing and scale-up of bioreactors adapted to the microbiological process and to the material system will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment

1 shows a representation of the bioreactor according to the invention for anaerobic wastewater treatment.

Bioreactor for anaerobic wastewater treatment with the aid of microorganism populations immobilized on carrier material FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of the device.

On the lower bottom flange 6 with feet and the nozzle a, b, which can be used for emptying or for gassing or for receiving gassing (rings, nozzles, etc.), the nozzle module 1 (D1 / H1 = 0.8) assembled. On the circumference of the nozzle module 1, the nozzles c, g and d, h are arranged in pairs opposite one another in a sectional plane.

The nozzles, to which pipelines or hose connections in a certain diameter range can be connected flexibly or firmly, are used for metering or reading of the wastewater as well as the addition and removal of seed sludge. Both modules are made of corrosion-resistant high-alloy steel. A flange adapter 2 with diameter D2 connects the platen module 1 with the tempering module 3 arranged above it (D3 / H3 = 0.37).

The coupling of the modules 1 and 3 is also without the flange adapter 2, the ring inner surfaces different mounts and recording systems for biochemically effective reactor internals, z. As pipes, membrane hoses, support elements for Mikroorganismenaufwuchsmaterialien etc., may contain. The double jacket of the Temporiermodules 3 serves to accommodate the circulating heating and / or cooling medium. The tempering 3 is also made of high-alloy steel.

The reactor shot module 4 is arranged above the temperature control module 3 and screwed thereto. The special glass reactor reactor module 4, which can also have different heights H4 (600--1200mm) in conjunction with adapted clamping elements, serves to encase the Mikroorganismenaufwuchsträger. For visual inspection and monitoring of the running microwave process, the reactor shot is made of special glass or plastic. The reactor head, which consists of a further nozzle module 1 with a bolted cover flange module 5, closes the bioreactor space upwards. The nozzles I, m, e, f, i and k arranged in the cover flange module 5 and in the nozzle module 1 are used for the discharge of gases, the supply and removal of waste water, as an overflow and for receiving sensors. On the reactor internals 7, the growth carrier materials were applied. The solids-discharging effluents, which are to be purified on a microbial basis under anaerobic conditions, reach the bioreactor through the nozzles i, k in the head section (downflow) or the pipes g, h in the bottom section (upflow). To reduce the temperature, pH and concentration gradients, the reactor contents are circulated by means of a pump via an external piping system. The outside of the bioreactor arranged piping system is connected at the bottom over the port b and above the port e with the Reaktionsrdum. The outer piping system is designed so that both the circulation of the reactor contents in the down or upflow is possible. Depending on the connection variant (upflow or outflow), the suction nozzle of the pump is located on the lower or upper nozzle module 1. The inoculation sludge, in which the microorganisms required for microbiological purification are present in suspended form, is sucked into the outer pipe system via a nozzle mixed with the wastewater pumped into the reaction space and there brought into contact with the intended for immobilization support material. The support materials were previously arranged in the region of the reactor shot module 4 on the reactor installation 7. The heat required for the microbial process is supplied via the heating medium circulating in the double jacket of the temperature control modules 3.

To ensure a constant reactor level, the same amount of wastewater as the amount of waste water leaves the reaction space via a siphon connected to the connection g. The biogas resulting from the metabolic activity of the microorganism population leaves the header via the connection m in the cover flange module 5. By means of a pipeline system equipped with a blower, the biogas can be sucked off and pressed back into the reaction space via the connection d in the lower connection module 1.

Claims (2)

1. bioreactor, consisting of a provided with an energy input closed reaction vessel containing nozzles for a product supply and removal and measuring points for process control, characterized in that mutually provided with tongue and groove flanges a prefabricated Bodenflanschmodul (6) with devices for energy input, a prefabricated nozzle module (1) with an inner diameter-height ratio D1 / H1 of 0.7 to 1.0, which has at its opposite lateral surfaces neck, a prefabricated flange adapter (2) with an inner diameter D2, whose inner rings are provided with receptacles for reactor internals (7), a prefabricated tempering (3) with an inner diameter-height ratio D3 / H3 of 0.3 to 0.5, wherein this on its outer surface arranged in a known manner heating and cooling jacket comprising a prefabricated reactor shot module (4) having an interior diameter-height ratio D4 / H4 of 0.12 to 0.5, the flange of which on the inner ring have receptacles for reactor internals (7), a prefabricated lipped cover flange module (5) coupled to a further nozzle module (1), are releasably connected together. 2. Bioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the order of the combination of the nozzle modules (1), Temperiermodule (3), reactor weft modules (4) and flange adapter (2) arbitrarily selectable and the number of the respective modules and adapters is also not equal to 1. For this 1 page drawing Field of application of the invention The invention relates to a bioreactor for carrying out experiments, with the aim of the development of microbiological processes in the laboratory and pilot plant scale, by the technical apparatus Diversifizieibarkeit adapted to the microbiological process technical bioreactors can be designed. Characteristic of the known state of the art With conventional stirred reactors used in material conversion processes, a number of primary requirements for bioreactors can be met. This concerns a uniform distribution of the microorganisms and the nutrients over the entire culture volume, the supply of biomass with nutrients and the setting of certain environmental conditions (temperature, pH, pressure). Other requirements resulting from typical Bioprozeßbedingungen are, due to the design (preferably insoluble compounds of the reactor assemblies and the reactor shape), no longer meet. These include the concentration of the biomass, the decoupling of residence time and biomass concentration, avoidance of microorganism damage by high shear forces in the field of stirring elements and the realization of continuous processes. A further disadvantage is that acquisition and operation of stirred reactors are very expensive. It is known that part of the requirements resulting from the bioprocess can be met by termreactors and modifications derived therefrom. Advantageous properties of these bioreactors are the simple design, no moving parts (stirrer), reduced space requirements, lower energy input, lower heat transfer surfaces, implementation of high material input rates, good transport coefficients, good energy dissipation, lack of zones and extreme shear stress and variation of the liquid phase dispersion to a certain extent Extent by constr. Activities. Disadvantage ^! However, because of the design, construction and production technology of the reactor modules, it is not possible to adapt an existing bioreactor to changing process conditions without great effort. A further disadvantage is that such development trends in the bioreactor technology as the development of continuous processes, in particular of multi-stage processes, the further increase in biomass concentration in the reactor, the integration of processing steps, the Kopmöungsmögüchkeiten (streams, Ene gieströme) to upstream and downstream process stages safe scale-up and the optional aerobic or anaerobic operation, without serious technical interference in the bioreactor configuration only insufficiently or not at all can be considered. All subsequent interventions in the bioreactor configuration and the optimum bioprocessing design of the reaction space are time-consuming and expensive. Object of the invention The aim of the invention is to provide a bioreactor of simple design and easy to handle, which offers biotechnological possibilities by means of its design, configuration and production technology to investigate the microwave processes taking place in a specific substance system with regard to the design, development and testing of microwave processes and the Transfer the process to a technical scale, time-saving and effective.