Method and apparatus for anaerobic fermentation

Claim 1

A method of submerged anerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, comprising the steps of introducing microorganisms and a substrate for the microorganisms into a lower conical section and an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section; causing the microorganisms to undergo submerged anaerobic fermentation in the substrate; preventing settling of microorganisms in the container during fermentation by recirculating the substrate and microorganisms by withdrawing the fermenting substrate with microorganisms therein from an outlet opening in the upper cylindrical section, and supplying the withdrawn substrate with microorganisms therein into the lower conical section through an inlet opening below said bottom wall at sufficient velocity and quantity to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the fermentation container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, and said substrate and microorganisms being agitated solely by said recirculating through said openings in the apertured bottom wall.

Claim 2

A method of submerged anerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, comprising the steps of introducing microorganisms and a substrate for the microorganisms into a lower conical section and an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section; causing the microorganisms to undergo submerged anaerobic fermentation in the substrate; preventing settling of microorganisms in the container during fermentation by recirculating the substrate and microorganisms by withdrawing the fermenting substrate with microorganisms therein from an outlet opening in the upper cylindrical section, and supplying the withdrawn substrate with microorganisms therein into the lower conical section through an inlet opening below said bottom wall at sufficient velocity and quantity to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the fermentation container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, and said substrate and microorganisms being agitated solely by said recirculating through said openings in the apertured bottom wall.

Claim 6

A method of submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, comprising the steps of introducing microorganisms and a substrate for the microorganisms into a fermentation container having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section and an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section; causing the microorganisms to undergo submerged anaerobic fermentation in the substrate; preventing settling of microorganisms in the container during fermentation by recirculating the substrate and microorganisms by withdrawing the fermenting substrate with microorganisms therein from an outlet opening in the upper cylindrical section, and supplying the withdrawn substrate with microorganisms therein into the lower conical section through an inlet opening below said bottom wall at sufficient velocity and quantity to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the fermentation container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said plurality of openings in the bottom wall having a total opening area equal to the cross-sectional area of said inlet opening in the lower conical section and said substrate and microorganisms being agitated solely by said recirculating through said openings in the apertured bottom wall.

Claim 7

A method of submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, comprising the steps of introducing microorganisms and a substrate for the microorganisms into a fermentation container having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section and an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section; causing the microorganisms to undergo submerged anaerobic fermentation in the substrate; preventing settling of microorganisms in the container during fermentation by recirculating the substrate and microorganisms by withdrawing the fermenting substrate with microorganisms therein from an outlet opening in the upper cylindrical section, and supplying the withdrawn substrate with microorganisms therein into the lower conical section through an inlet opening below said bottom wall at sufficient velocity and quantity to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the fermentation container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said plurality of openings in the bottom wall having a total opening area equal to the cross-sectional area of said inlet opening in the lower conical section and said substrate and microorganisms being agitated solely by said recirculating through said openings in the apertured bottom wall.

Claim 8

An apparatus for submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, consisting essentially of a fermentation container for containing a substrate and microorganisms having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section, a means for withdrawing substrate and microorganisms from the upper cylindrical section through an outlet opening therein, and means for supplying the withdrawn substrate and microorganisms at sufficient velocity and quantity into the lower conical section through an inlet opening therein below the bottom wall to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said apertured bottom wall being the sole means contained by said apparatus for agitation of substrate and microorganisms in said fermentation container.

Claim 9

An apparatus for submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, consisting essentially of a fermentation container for containing a substrate and microorganisms having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section, a means for withdrawing substrate and microorganisms from the upper cylindrical section through an outlet opening therein, and means for supplying the withdrawn substrate and microorganisms at sufficient velocity and quantity into the lower conical section through an inlet opening therein below the bottom wall to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said apertured bottom wall being the sole means contained by said apparatus for agitation of substrate and microorganisms in said fermentation container.

Claim 15

An apparatus for submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, consisting essentially of a fermentation container for containing a substrate and microorganisms having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section, a means for withdrawing substrate and microorganisms from the upper cylindrical section through an outlet opening therein, and means for supplying the withdrawn substrate and microorganisms at sufficient velocity and quantity into the lower conical section through an inlet opening therein below the bottom wall to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said plurality of openings in the apertured bottom wall having a total opening area equal to the cross-sectional area of said inlet opening in the lower conical section.

Claim 16

An apparatus for submerged anaerobic fermentation of substrates with microorganisms, consisting essentially of a fermentation container for containing a substrate and microorganisms having an upper cylindrical section, a lower conical section, an apertured bottom wall containing a plurality of openings arranged between the lower conical section and the upper cylindrical section, a means for withdrawing substrate and microorganisms from the upper cylindrical section through an outlet opening therein, and means for supplying the withdrawn substrate and microorganisms at sufficient velocity and quantity into the lower conical section through an inlet opening therein below the bottom wall to drive the substrate and microorganisms upward in the container and up through the openings in the apertured bottom wall at sufficient fluid velocity to prevent settling of the microorganisms in the fermentation container, said plurality of openings in the apertured bottom wall having a total opening area equal to the cross-sectional area of said inlet opening in the lower conical section.