EP0084325A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for photosynthesis
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-01-05
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2003-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A photosynthetic reaction bath has thereinside a number of photoradiators in the form of narrow upright tubes. A baffle plate is disposed below the photo-radiators and is formed with a number of apertures therethrough in a predetermined area thereof which may be a radially central area or a generally annular peripheral area. C0 2 -containing air is fed into the reaction bath through the apertures in the baffle plate to recirculate along a predetermined path inside the reaction bath due to the remaining non-apertured part of the baffle plate. The function of the baffle plate may be performed by plugging which blocks the passage of the air through the spacings between the lower ends of the adjacent photoradiators in the predetermined area. The recirculation of the air may be caused more positively along a variable path by a rotor which is positioned below the photoradiators and rotatable by ejecting the air while supplying it to the interior of the reaction bath. The rotor is cushioned and supported by the air ejected therefrom during operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Kei Mori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:13
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M1/00; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/20; C12M21/00; C12M21/02; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/06; C12M23/44; C12M27/00; C12M27/02; C12M27/04; C12M29/00; C12M29/04; C12M31/00; C12M31/08; C12M31/10; C12N1/12; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for photosynthesis comprising: a photosynthetic reaction bath; a plurality of tubular photoradiators arranged upright in said reaction bath in parallel with each other; a conduit communicating the reaction bath to a source of C0 2 -containing air supply; and a means for recirculating in the reaction bath the CO 2-containing air which is fed from the conduit into the reaction bath.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for photosynthesis comprising: a photosynthetic reaction bath; a plurality of tubular photoradiators arranged upright in said reaction bath in parallel with each other; a conduit communicating the reaction bath to a source of C0 2 -containing air supply; and a means for recirculating in the reaction bath the CO 2-containing air which is fed from the conduit into the reaction bath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the recirculation means causes the air to recirculate along a predetermined path in the reaction bath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which. the photoradiators are spaced from each other, the recirculation means comprising plug members for plugging the spacings or gaps between lower portions of the adjacent photoradiators in a predetermined area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the spacings between the adjacent photoradiators are defined by short tubes in which lower end portions of the respective photoradiators are fit fluid-tight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the predetermined area is a radially central area in the reaction bath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the predetermined area is a generally annular area adjacent to the periphery of the reaction bath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the predetermined area is smaller than the rest.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the recirculation means comprises a plate formed with a plurality of apertures in a predetermined area thereof and located below the bottoms of the photo- radiators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the plate is engaged with the bottoms of the photo- radiators which are spaced from each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the spacings between the adjacent photoradiators are defined by short tubes in which lower end portions of the respective photoradiators are fit fluid-tight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the predetermined area is a radially central area in the reaction bath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the predetermined area is a generally annular area adjacent to the periphery of the reaction bath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the predetermined area is larger than the rest.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the plate is spaced from the bottoms of the photo- radiators which are engaged with each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the predetermined area is a radially central area in the reaction bath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the predetermined area is a generally annular area adjacent to the periphery of the reaction bath.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the predetermined area is larger than the rest.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which each of the photoradiators has a diameter which is smaller at the upper end than at the lower end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which each of the apertures has a diameter which allows a culture medium to pass therethrough, the conduit being communicatable to a vacuum source during collection of the product of photosynthesis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which each of the apertures has a diameter which passed the air while blocking a culture medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising check valve means for preventing a culture medium from dropping through the apertures while permitting the air to pass therethrough.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which the check valve means comprises an upwardly tapered bore which is defined by each of the apertures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which the check valve means comprises an upwardly tapered bore which is defined by each of the apertures, a valve seat member screwed into the lower end of the tapered bore and a ball movably seated on said valve seat member inside the tapered bore.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the recirculation means causes the air to recirculate along a variable path in the reaction bath.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, in which the recirculation means comprises a recirculation member which varies the recirculation path by varying the pneumatic pressure distribution in a bottom portion of the reaction bath.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, in which the conduit has an extension which projects into the bottom portion of the reaction bath, the recirculation member comprising a rotor rotatably coupled over the conduit extension and constructed to rotate ejecting jets of the air supplied from the conduit from air ejection ports formed therein,said rotor supplying the air into the reaction bath during rotation thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, in which the rotor is supported by an air bearing formed by the air during rotation thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, the reaction bath has polygonal cross-section, the rotor further comprising air ejection ports which are respectively open radially outwardly of the rotor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary bath communicated with an upper portion of the reaction bath.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, in which the auxiliary bath is communicated with the reaction bath by at least two vertically spaced ports.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, in which the auxiliary bath is formed with a product outlet at a lower end portion thereof and an air outlet and a culture medium inlet at an upper portion thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, in which a pressure regulator valve is associated with the air outlet for automatically regulating the pressure inside the reaction bath.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a heat generating and absorbing unit disposed in the auxiliary bath for controlling the temperature inside the reaction bath.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each of the photoradiators comprises a transparent tubular sheath, an optical rod extending through said tubular sheath, and a light diffusing means for diffusing light transmitted through said optical rod to the outside into the reaction chamber.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, in which the light diffusing means comprises a light diffusing material carried on the optical rod at spaced locations along the length of the rod.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, in which the light diffusing means comprises a radially outer section of the optical rod which is larger in refractive index than the remaining part of the optical rod.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, further comprising fiber optic cables each having at least two optical fibers thereinside and optically connected with the optical rod in one of the photoradiators, at least one of the optical fibers being supplied with converged sunlight and at least one of the rest being supplied with artificial light.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising reflector means which defines the inner surface of the lower end of each of the photoradiators.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lid which removably covers the upper end of the reaction bath, the photoradiators being mounted fluid-tight on the lid at upper end portions thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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