US-12624329-B2 - Fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms

US12624329B2US 12624329 B2US12624329 B2US 12624329B2US-12624329-B2

Abstract

There is described a fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, particularly a vertical fermentation tank comprising aeration and agitation elements with low cost and high efficiency. Particularly, a fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms ( 100 ) comprising an external structure ( 10 ) of longitudinal axis (L) and an inner container ( 20 ) which receives a mixture to be fermented, the fermentation tank ( 100 ) comprising an aeration and agitation element ( 30 ) arranged in the inner container ( 20 ) collinear with the longitudinal axis (L), the aeration and agitation element ( 30 ) comprising internally a plurality of sets of fins ( 40 ), each set of fins ( 40 ) being arranged axially parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis (L) to provide aeration and agitation of the mixture to be fermented.

Inventors

Josiane FUKAMI
Douglas Fabiano GOMES
Juliana Marcolino GOMES
Jonas Hipolito

Assignees

TOTAL BIOTECNOLOGIA INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO S.A.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221004
Priority Date: 20211005

Claims (8)

1 . A fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, comprising an external structure of longitudinal axis and an inner container which receives a mixture to be fermented, wherein the fermentation tank comprises an aeration and agitation element arranged in the inner container collinear with the longitudinal axis, wherein the aeration and agitation element comprises a body structure comprising internally a plurality of sets of fins and an air inlet system formed by a plurality of air ducts pneumatically connected to a diffuser element, wherein each set of fins is arranged axially parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis to provide aeration of the mixture to be fermented, and wherein the diffuser element consists of a spiral flexible piping comprising multiple air outlet holes that release the air in a vertical direction of the fermentation tank for agitation and homogenization of the mixture to be fermented.
2 . The fermentation tank according to claim 1 , wherein the body structure has an upper end axially fixed to a cover through which the air inlet system passes to be connected to the spiral flexible piping radially arranged in the body structure providing the connection of the air inlet system with the diffuser element, arranged at a lower end of the body structure, opposite to the cover.
3 . The fermentation tank according to claim 2 , wherein the diffuser element consists of a spiral piping equipped with multiple equidistant air outlet holes.
4 . The fermentation tank according to claim 2 , wherein the external structure comprises a base, an upper portion and side walls, the base having support brackets, the upper portion being comprised of lifting handles and at least one side wall comprising an access inlet to the inner container.
5 . The fermentation tank according to claim 4 , wherein the aeration and agitation element is arranged in the inner container collinear with the longitudinal axis so that the lower end of the body structure is internally fixed to the base of the external structure by means of fasteners and the cover is positioned and fixed to the external surface of the upper portion.
6 . The fermentation tank according to claim 5 , wherein the diffuser element of the aeration and agitation element is arranged in the inner container and parallel to the base.
7 . The fermentation tank according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sets of fins is axially fixed along a connecting axis, each set of fins being arranged axially parallel to each other at a variable distance.
8 . The fermentation tank according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the air inlet system is connected to a compressed air line.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to a fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms with biotechnological potential, particularly a vertical fermentation tank comprising aeration and mechanical agitation elements with low cost and high efficiency. CROSS-REFERENCE This application claims priority to Brazilian Patent Application No. BR102021019990-3, filed Oct. 5, 2021,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND The transformation of substrates in products by means of a fermentation process uses, generally, equipment known as bioreactors. The bioreactors are vessels, such as tanks for example, which control the temperature, pressure, pH, and agitation, among other parameters, of the substrate and inoculum inserted therein during the fermentation process. To this end, the bioreactors known to the prior art are provided with a container or tank which receives the substrates, inoculum feed ducts, mechanical agitation systems with paddles driven by electric motors, aeration equipment and instruments for controlling temperature, pressure, pH among other parameters. For the adequate feeding of oxygen for the aeration of the mixture, these bioreactors require predefined piping at the place of installation thereof, both for transfer of the inoculum as for the injection of compressed air. Additionally, this type of equipment presents higher consumption of energy, steam, and gas for the operation thereof, as well as greater investment costs in the manufacture and installation. This is because, the known bioreactors demand a complex steam boiler structure for the sterilization thereof, air compressors and units for generating steam and air, making the change of location of this equipment difficult in a factory, for example. Maintenance also becomes more time consuming, increasing the equipment downtime. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention has as objective to provide a fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, particularly a portable and low-cost vertical fermentation tank, comprising highly efficient aeration and mechanical agitation elements and which do not demand the use of motors for their operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention has as object a fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, comprising an external structure of longitudinal axis and an inner container which receives a mixture to be fermented. The fermentation tank comprises an aeration and agitation element arranged collinear with the longitudinal axis, the aeration and agitation element comprising internally a plurality of sets of fins, each set of fins being arranged axially parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis to provide aeration and agitation of the mixture to be fermented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, object of this invention. FIG. 2 is a lateral schematic view of the fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, object of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, object of this invention. FIG. 4 is a picture illustrating the aeration and agitation element which comprises the fermentation tank for the multiplication of the microorganisms, object of this invention. FIG. 5 is a picture illustrating an upper detail of the aeration and agitation element which comprises the fermentation tank for the multiplication of the microorganisms, object of this invention. FIG. 6 is a picture illustrating an inner detail of the aeration and agitation element which comprises the fermentation tank for the multiplication of the microorganisms, object of this invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B are pictures illustrating the aeration and agitation element and the detail of the set of fins arranged internally to the aeration and agitation element. FIG. 8 is a picture illustrating the set of fins illustrated in detail in FIG. 7B; and FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the aeration and agitation carried out in the fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms, object of this invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a preferred embodiment and as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 9, the fermentation tank for the multiplication of microorganisms 100, object of this invention, comprises an external structure 10 of longitudinal axis L and an inner container 20 which receives a mixture to be fermented. In this sense, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the external structure 10 of longitudinal axis L of the fermentation tank 100 comprises a base 11, an upper portion 12 opposite the base 11 and side walls 13. The base 11 is comprised of support brackets 14 which maintain the fermentation tank 100 in the vertical position during the operation thereof, while the upper portion 12 is comprised of lifting handles 15 which h