US3630848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous fermentation method and device
Assignee: LOUIS ALFRED AUGUSTE LEFRANCOI
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Filing: 1968-12-26
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1988-12-26
Abstract
Abstract The continuous fermentation of a working liquid wherein the circulation of the working liquid takes place through two chambers in succession, the entire mass being involved in the general flow, said chambers having unequal useful horizontal cross sections, the whole or the greater part of the gas by which the circulation is obtained being blown in the vicinity of the bottom of the ascending portion of the circuit which has the smallest cross-sectional area, said mass being subsequently transferred at a lower flow rate into the descending flow chamber having a greater cross-sectional area, whereby the ratio of the times of the ascending and descending movements of said mass considered as having a uniform mean density, ranges from 0.8 to 0.05.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Alfred August Lefrancois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:38
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M27/00; C12M27/18; C12M27/24; C12M29/00; C12M29/18; C12M41/00; C12M41/12; C12M41/18; C12M41/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/813; Y10S435/818; Y10S435/819
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein feed fluids are introduced in the vicinity of the bottom of said ascending flow chamber, upstream of the gas, so that said feed fluids are consumed mainly in said ascending phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein the feed ratio of all the components necessary for the metabolisms of the micro-organisms are so adjusted that the components of said feed are absorbed sufficiently prior to the ingress of said mass into the descending flow circulation phase, and that, consequently, only minor variations take place whether in the conditions of said mass or in the nutritive compositions of said mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein the feed is distributed at different points of the circuit, thus permitting developing different modes of fermentation along the circuit and minimizing the variations in the conditions of said mass and in the nutritive compositions thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein, to counteract the heat generated by the growth of the micro-organisms, the interior of the circuit is cooled in the chamber of reduced cross-sectional area in which the ascending circulation takes place.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein, to promote the growth of the micro-organisms, the interior of the circuit is heated in the chamber of reduced cross-sectional area in which the ascending circulation takes place.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in case of anaerobic fermentation, one fraction of the gas generated by the fermentation process is collected at the top of the circuit and recompressed for subsequent recycling therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein, by virtue of a predetermined reduction in the rate of circulation of said mass, the homogeneity properties thereof are not maintained uniform in that there is an incipient decantation of the liquid with respect to the gas along the circuit path, the variation in the degree of heterogeneity thus created being nevertheless maintained by properly controlling the circulation rate within limits not to be overstepped but permitting an enrichment of the upper layers with micro-organisms in conjunction with a slight removal of gas from the lower zones of the circuit, whereby the hydrodynamic conditions are improved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein fermented fluid is extracted from said circuit in the vicinity of the bottom of said larger chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein said larger chamber is cylindrical and said fluid is introduced tangentially into the upper portion of said larger chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Method of fermenting and producing micro-organisms as set forth in claim 1, wherein the circulating effect of said gas is supplemented by mechanical impulsion of said fluid mass at a portion of said circuit of reduced cross-sectional area.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
156 words
A device for the continuous fermentation and production of any micro-organisms, consisting of two vessels having substantially vertical walls and different useful cross-sectional area, means for interconnecting said vessels at the top and bottom thereof, and other means for blowing gas into the lower portion of the smaller vessel in order to produce the continuous circulation of the working mass, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the two vessels ranges from 0.8 to 0.05, said gas blowing means being sufficient for imparting to the ascending phase a relatively high speed of the order of 0.5 to 2 meters/second and producing in addition a great turbulence, the circuits interconnecting the two vessels being arranged with a view to reduce frictional losses, the threshold of overflow of the ascending flow into the descending flow lying above the upper mean level common to both vessels of the gas/liquid circulating mass constituting a continuous mass without any discontinuity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the outlet for the ascending flow towards the descending flow vessel is deflected with respect to the plane comprising the axes of the two vessels in order to produce an assymetric overflow adapted to maintain the rotation of the mass of fluid during its descending phase, so as to avoid preferential paths in said descending phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein a mechanical accelerator is provided in a restricted portion of the fluid circuit in order to accelerate the rate of flow of the fluid in circulation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein a heat exchange means is installed within the circuit, in said ascending flow smaller vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein a closed volume is provided in said descending flow vessel, coaxially thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein a cylindrical enclosure communicating with the descending flow vessel unit is arranged centrally thereof and coaxially thereto, together with means permitting the insufflation of gas from the bottom upwards through said enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein a descending flow vessel is common and interconnected with a plurality of ascending flow vessels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Micro-organisms fermentation and production device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said vessels are closed and adapted to operate under pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2983652A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |