A bioconversion reactor

Claim 2

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material, comprising: a shell having top, bottom and side walls enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port through which a liquid stream containing the organic material enters the shell; an outlet port through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; and a plurality of baffles positioned within the shell along the length thereof and spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the side walls of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell, the lower edge of the others of the baffles being spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween.

Claim 3

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material contained in a liquid stream by reaction with a microorganism, comprising: a shell having top, bottom and side walls enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream enters the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream exits the shell; a plurality of baffles located within the shell along the length thereof in a substantially parallel relationship and spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the side walls of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell with the others of the baffles having their lower edges spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough; an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with one side of each of the flow passageways; a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with the other side of each of the flow passageways; and the plurality of baffles serving to maintain the microorganism within the shell as the liquid stream flows therethrough.

Claim 4

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material contained in a liquid stream by reaction with a microorganism, comprising: a shell having top, bottom and side walls enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream enters the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream exits the shell; a plurality of baffles located within the shell along the length thereof in a substantially parallel relationship and spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the side walls of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell with the others of the baffles having their lower edges spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough; an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with one side of each of the flow passageways; a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with the other side of each of the flow passageways; and the plurality of baffles serving to maintain the microorganism within the shell as the liquid stream flows therethrough.

Claim 5

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lower edge of the other of the baffles is slanted away from the downflow chamber.

Claim 6

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the downflow chamber is less than of the upflow chamber.

Claim 7

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the baffle closest to the inlet port has its lower edge thereof joined to the bottom wall of the shell.

Claim 8

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the baffle closest to the outlet port has its lower edge thereof joined to the bottom wall of the shell.

Claim 9

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upflow chamber nearest the outlet port has media therein so that the downflow chamber functions as a clarifying chamber.

Claim 10

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the overflow levels in successive upflow chambers differ in heights.

Claim 11

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material contained in a liquid stream, comprising: a shell having top, bottom and side walls enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream can enter the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream can exit from the shell; a plurality of baffles located within the shell along the length thereof and spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the side walls of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell with the other baffles having the lower edge thereof spaced from the bottom wall and slanted towards the outlet port in order to define a flow passageway therebetween; a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on that side thereof nearest the inlet port; and an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on that side thereof nearest the outlet port, the cross-sectional dimension of the downflow chamber being less than that of the upflow chamber.

Claim 12

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material contained in a liquid stream, comprising: a shell having top, bottom and side walls enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream can enter the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream can exit from the shell; a plurality of baffles located within the shell along the length thereof and spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the side walls of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell with the other baffles having the lower edge thereof spaced from the bottom wall and slanted towards the outlet port in order to define a flow passageway therebetween; a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on that side thereof nearest the inlet port; and an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on that side thereof nearest the outlet port, the cross-sectional dimension of the downflow chamber being less than that of the upflow chamber.

Claim 13

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 9 wherein the baffle closest to the inlet port has its lower edge thereof spaced from the bottom wall of the shell.

Claim 14

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 10 wherein the baffle closest to the outlet port has its lower edge thereof spaced from the bottom wall of the shell.

Claim 15

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 9 further including media located at the bottom of the shell between the baffles for achieving a more uniform flow of the liquid stream through the predetermined volume.

Claim 16

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 9 further including means for recycling the liquid stream leaving the shell so that it may be mixed with the liquid stream entering the shell.

Claim 17

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 9 wherein the upflow chamber adjacent the outlet port has media therein so that the upflow chamber functions as a clarifying chamber.

Claim 18

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 9 further including a gas recycle line for recycling gas from the outlet port back into the shell.

Claim 19

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 9 further including means for collecting and wasting solids in the shell.

Claim 20

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 2 or claim 9 wherein the upflow chamber includes means for providing an enhanced distribution of flow of the liquid stream entering therein.

Claim 21

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 17 wherein the enhanced distribution means includes a false bottom at the bottom of the upflow chamber, the false bottom having a series of orifices formed therein.

Claim 22

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 17 wherein the enhanced distribution means includes a partition located at the bottom of the upflow chamber, the partition having a number of fluid passageways provided therein.

Claim 23

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 19 wherein an overflow rim is located at the top of the upflow chamber.

Claim 24

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 2 or claim 9 wherein the overflow level of the upflow chambers decrease in height away from the inlet port.

Claim 25

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 2 or claim 9 wherein the overflow levels of the upflow chambers have a step-down configuration.

Claim 26

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 2 or claim 9 wherein the respective overflow levels of adjacent upflow chambers decrease in height with the highest overflow level located nearest to the inlet port.

Claim 27

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 23 wherein the decrease in height is between about 2 to 5 centimeters between adjacent upflow chambers.

Claim 28

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material, comprising: a cylindrical shell having top and bottom walls and a circumferential wall enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port through which a liquid stream containing the organic material enters the shell; an oulet port through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; and a plurality of baffles positioned within the shell and radiating from the central axis thereof to be spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the circumferential wall of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell, the lower edge of the other baffles being spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween.

Claim 29

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material, comprising: a cylindrical shell having top and bottom walls and a circumferential wall enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port through which a liquid stream containing the organic material enters the shell; an oulet port through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; and a plurality of baffles positioned within the shell and radiating from the central axis thereof to be spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the circumferential wall of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell, the lower edge of the other baffles being spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween.

Claim 30

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic materials contained in a liquid stream, comprising: a cylindrical shell having top and bottom walls and a circumferential wall enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream enters the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; a plurality of baffles located within the shell and radiating from the central axis thereof to be spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the circumferential wall of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell with the other baffles having the lower edge thereof spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough; an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on one side thereof; and a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on the side thereof opposite the one side.

Claim 31

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic materials contained in a liquid stream, comprising: a cylindrical shell having top and bottom walls and a circumferential wall enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream enters the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; a plurality of baffles located within the shell and radiating from the central axis thereof to be spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the circumferential wall of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edge thereof to the bottom wall of the shell with the other baffles having the lower edge thereof spaced from the bottom wall in order to define a flow passageway therebetween for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough; an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on one side thereof; and a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on the side thereof opposite the one side.

Claim 32

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 26 further including a gas port through which gases produced by the anaerobic fermentation of organic material in the shell may pass.

Claim 33

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 26 wherein the lower edge of the other baffles is slanted away from the downflow chamber.

Claim 34

A bioconversion reactor as claimed in claim 28 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the downflow chamber is less than that of the upflow chamber.

Claim 35

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material contained in a liquid stream by reaction with a microorganism, comprising; a cylindrical shell having top and bottom walls and a circumferential wall enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream enters the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; a plurality of baffles substantially vertically positioned within the shell and radiating from the central axis thereof to be spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the circumferential wall of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edges thereof to the bottom wall of the shell to be substantially perpendicular therewith, the other baffles having the lower edges thereof spaced from the bottom wall to define a flow passageway therebetween; an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on one side thereof; a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on one side thereof opposite the said one side; and wherein the liquid stream entering the shell flows downwardly through the downflow chambers and then through the flow passageways to flow upwardly through the upflow chambers, the baffles impeding the flow of the microorganisms through the shell so that the microorganisms remain therein as the liquid stream flows through the shell.

Claim 36

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material contained in a liquid stream by reaction with a microorganism, comprising; a cylindrical shell having top and bottom walls and a circumferential wall enclosing a predetermined volume; an inlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream enters the shell; an outlet port in the shell through which the liquid stream exits from the shell; a plurality of baffles substantially vertically positioned within the shell and radiating from the central axis thereof to be spaced from one another with the sides thereof joined to the circumferential wall of the shell, alternate ones of the baffles being joined at the lower edges thereof to the bottom wall of the shell to be substantially perpendicular therewith, the other baffles having the lower edges thereof spaced from the bottom wall to define a flow passageway therebetween; an upflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on one side thereof; a downflow chamber for the flow of the liquid stream therethrough in fluid communication with each of the flow passageways on one side thereof opposite the said one side; and wherein the liquid stream entering the shell flows downwardly through the downflow chambers and then through the flow passageways to flow upwardly through the upflow chambers, the baffles impeding the flow of the microorganisms through the shell so that the microorganisms remain therein as the liquid stream flows through the shell.