US3717552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the cultivation and recovery of microorganisms
Assignee: BP PLC
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Filing: 1972-04-24
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1992-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the cultivation of micro-organisms wherein the pumping efficiency of cultivated broth removed from the cultivation zone is improved by first subjecting the removed cultivated broth to a separation step wherein aerated broth separated is from partially de-aerated broth under the action of the density differential between aerated broth and partially deaerated broth, and thereafter pumping partially de-aerated broth back to the cultivation zone. The process is particularly suited to fermentations having external heat exchange means and in which the cultivated broth is highly aerated.
Inventors
- 👤 J Hondermarck
- 👤 I Bennett
- 👤 J Guillo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:52
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M27/00; C12M27/18; C12M27/24; C12M33/00; C12M33/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/803; Y10S435/804; Y10S435/812; Y10S435/813; Y10S435/818; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/824; Y10S435/84; Y10S435/843; Y10S435/85; Y10S435/859; Y10S435/867; Y10S435/869; Y10S435/872; Y10S435/886; Y10S435/897; Y10S435/904; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/913; Y10S435/921; Y10S435/923; Y10S435/924; Y10S435/93; Y10S435/933; Y10S435/938; Y10S435/944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for the recycle of partially de-aerated broth, said apparatus comprising a fermenter and a decanter, said fermenter and decanter being in fluid flow connection such that in use a flow pattern is created whereby broth passes from the fermenter to the decanter where phase separation takes place with aerated broth moving upwardly and returning to the fermenter while partially de-aerated broth is recovered from a low level in the decanter by an off-take connected to a heat exchange unit, and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for the recycle of partially de-aerated broth, said apparatus comprising a fermenter and a decanter, said fermenter and decanter being in fluid flow connection such that in use a flow pattern is created whereby broth passes from the fermenter to the decanter where phase separation takes place with aerated broth moving upwardly and returning to the fermenter while partially de-aerated broth is recovered from a low level in the decanter by an off-take connected to a heat exchange unit, and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for the recycle of partially de-aerated broth said apparatus comprising a fermenter and a decanting vessel, said fermenter and decanting vessel being in fluid flow connection by transfer pipes at two levels, one level being above the other such that in use a flow pattern is created whereby broth passes from the fermenter by the lower pipe to the decanting vessel and an aerated broth returns to the fermenter by the upper pipe, the decanting vessel being provided with an off-take pipe for partially de-aerated broth, the off-take pipe being situated at a level below that at which the lower transfer pipe communicates with the decanter, the off-take pipe beinG connected to a heat exchange unit, and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for the recycle of partially de-aerated broth said apparatus comprising a fermenter and a decanting vessel, said fermenter and decanting vessel being in fluid flow connection by transfer pipes at two levels, one level being above the other such that in use a flow pattern is created whereby broth passes from the fermenter by the lower pipe to the decanting vessel and an aerated broth returns to the fermenter by the upper pipe, the decanting vessel being provided with an off-take pipe for partially de-aerated broth, the off-take pipe being situated at a level below that at which the lower transfer pipe communicates with the decanter, the off-take pipe beinG connected to a heat exchange unit, and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for the aerated cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for recycle of partially de-aerated broth said apparatus comprising a fermenter which defines a cultivation zone, the fermenter having located therein a decanter which defines a quiescent zone, the fermenter and the decanter being in fluid flow connection such that in use a flow pattern is created whereby broth passes from the cultivation zone to the quiescent zone where phase separation takes place, aerated broth moving upwardly and returning to the cultivation zone and partially de-aerated broth being recovered from a low level in the quiescent zone by an off-take in the decanter, the off-take being connected to a heat exchange unit and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for the aerated cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for recycle of partially de-aerated broth said apparatus comprising a fermenter which defines a cultivation zone, the fermenter having located therein a decanter which defines a quiescent zone, the fermenter and the decanter being in fluid flow connection such that in use a flow pattern is created whereby broth passes from the cultivation zone to the quiescent zone where phase separation takes place, aerated broth moving upwardly and returning to the cultivation zone and partially de-aerated broth being recovered from a low level in the quiescent zone by an off-take in the decanter, the off-take being connected to a heat exchange unit and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for recycle of partially de-aerated broth, said apparatus comprising a vertical cylindrical vessel having a co-axial director tube whereby, in use, in a cultivation zone circulation of broth takes place in the opposite direction within the tube to the direction of flow in the annular space outside the tube, said vessel being provided with a partition in or in and below the annular space to isolate a sector of the annular space from the remaining annular space, said sector constituting a quiescent zone, said quiescent zone being connected, for purposes of liquid flow, at an intermediate level in said quiescent zone with the cultivation zone, said quiescent zone being connected for purposes of re-circulation of de-aerated broth at a high level in said zone with a high level in the cultivation zone and said quiescent zone having an off-take for removal of partially de-aerated broth, said off-take being at a level in said quiescent zone below the level at which broth is fed to the quiescent zone, the off-take being connected to a heat exchange unit and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for recycle of partially de-aerated broth, said apparatus comprising a vertical cylindrical vessel having a co-axial director tube whereby, in use, in a cultivation zone circulation of broth takes place in the opposite direction within the tube to the direction of flow in the annular space outside the tube, said vessel being provided with a partition in or in and below the annular space to isolate a sector of the annular space from the remaining annular space, said sector constituting a quiescent zone, said quiescent zone being connected, for purposes of liquid flow, at an intermediate level in said quiescent zone with the cultivation zone, said quiescent zone being connected for purposes of re-circulation of de-aerated broth at a high level in said zone with a high level in the cultivation zone and said quiescent zone having an off-take for removal of partially de-aerated broth, said off-take being at a level in said quiescent zone below the level at which broth is fed to the quiescent zone, the off-take being connected to a heat exchange unit and the heat exchange unit having a return pipe to the fermenter.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for recycle of partially de-aerated broth, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical fermentation vessel, a co-axial central tapering tube situated at the vessel base, said tube and said vessel base defining an open topped central sector constituting a quiescent zone, said central tube defining externally with the walls of the fermenter vessel a sector which constitutes a cultivation zone, said central quiescent zone and said cultivation zone being in liquid flow communication through the open top of the central tube, said central sector having an off-take at its base for the removal of partially de-aerated broth, said off-take being connected to a heat exchange unit and said heat exchange unit having a return pipe to said fermenter vessel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for the aerobic cultivation of a micro-organism wherein provision is made for recycle of partially de-aerated broth, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical fermentation vessel, a co-axial central tapering tube situated at the vessel base, said tube and said vessel base defining an open topped central sector constituting a quiescent zone, said central tube defining externally with the walls of the fermenter vessel a sector which constitutes a cultivation zone, said central quiescent zone and said cultivation zone being in liquid flow communication through the open top of the central tube, said central sector having an off-take at its base for the removal of partially de-aerated broth, said off-take being connected to a heat exchange unit and said heat exchange unit having a return pipe to said fermenter vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 in which the fermentation vessel has an open ended co-axial director tube located in the cultivation zone, said director tube dividing the cultivation zone into an outer and inner annular space whereby in use circulation of broth in the inner annular space takes place in an opposite direction to the direction of flow in the outer annular space.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3563858A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |