shapharenko N.V., Trivailo M.S., Kondratyuk R.V., Saverchenko V.G.

National Technical University of Ukraine «KPI»

THE GASLIFT APPARATUS

The utility model relates to biotechnology, namely the gaslift bubble apparatus and can be used for cultivation of microorganisms.

Known gaslift bubble apparatus (GBA) for cultivation of microorganisms, which includes a cylindrical body with technological pipes and placed in its cavity perforated plates (disks) with downpiped holes, disk-shaped aerator, located outside the body circulating pipes (see, А.с. СССР № 1774654, С12М1/04, 1994).

Disadvantages of this GBA are in relatively large dimensions and material due to external location of circulation pipes.

The closest to useful model relatively to technical sense and reached effect is taken as a prototype of GBA, which has placed on the same axis vertically-placed body with the technological pipes and installed with clearance relative to its body walls in its cavity circulation pipe of constant diameter, and placed under circulation pipe spiral pipe aerator (see А.с. СССР № 1708829, С12М1/04, 1992)

Defect of known GBA is in relatively low productivity due to passive mixing (mass-exchange) because of constant squares of cross-sections of flows, and that is why velocities of mixing of working fluid in them along the height.

The basis of the utility model is a task to improve GBA, in which by means of changing form of the circulation pipe it is provided the change of velocities of movement of working fluid along its height that intensifies process of mixing, and thus accelerates the growth of microorganisms and leads to increasing of productivity.

A task is solved by that in the GBA, which includes vertical cylindrical body with technological pipes and placed in the body cavity with radial clearance circulating pipe, and set under a circulation pipe aerator, according to utility model the new is that the circulation pipe has a barrel-like form .

Provision of circulating pipe a barrel shape, unlike a cylindrical shape in the near analogue, ensures moving of working fluid with variable along its height speed, that is impossible in the near analogue, and it additionally causes turbulization in flows, resulting the intensification of its mixing. Intensification of the process of mixing accelerates the growth of microorganisms and leads to increasing the productivity.

In fig. 1 it is schematically shown an announced GBA, general view, in fig. 2 – section A-A in fig. 1.

GBA includes vertical cylindrical body 1 with pipe 2 for a supply of liquid and seed material (working fluid), pipe 3 for removing culture broth and pipe 4 for diverting waste gas. In the cavity of body 1 along its axis it is fixed a circulation pipe 5 and it is placed an aerator 6 under it. Circulation pipe 5 has barrel-like form with barrel diameter R and is fixed against removes with plates 7 or other known means and forms with the internal surface of body 1 variable along its height radial clearance «δ» .

The GBA works in next way.

In pre sterilized body through the pipe 2 it is injected working fluid, after what in aerator 6 it is served compressed gas (air), which in the form of numerous bubbles 9 comes in tube 5 and forms a liquid-gas bubble mixture with working fluid, which is much easier on the working fluid that is in the gap «δ» between the pipe and the body 1. Different density (share) of the working fluid in the middle of the circulation pipe and around it generates high-rise circulation 10 of liquid medium in the body 1 with formation of opposite-directed flows 11 and 12.

As the flows 11, 12 owing to the barrel shape of circulation pipe have variable along the height of working fluid squares of cross-sectional area, the rate of 13 of movement of working liquid in them are becoming variable nature, that causes additional mixing. The circulation of fluid continues as long as the air enters the circulation pipe. Exhaust air through the nozzle 4 is removed in the environment.

As far as movement of working fluid in flows 11, 12 along their height (length) is a variable, instead of standing in the near analogue, speed, the intensity of mixing increases, and it accelerates the growth of microorganisms and leads to greater productivity.