Karachun V.V., Trivailo M.S., Mel’niñk V. N.

National Technical University of Ukraine «KPI»

Admission and exhaust valves for aeration

 

The model refers to microbiology and may be used for cultivation of microorganisms in fluid environments at producing biologically-active substances and vaccines.

It is known the plant for cultivation of microorganisms (PCM) which contains a vertical placed camera, in which the top part there are situated branch pipes with filters for supplying fresh air and removal of exhausted air, placed in camera transversal dividing walls, and also the device for mixing working liquid  in the form of joined to the vibrational drive of stock with plates (patent for an invention of Ukraine ¹ 1513 Ñ12 Ì1/04, 1994).

The fault of the known PCM consists in complicacy of construction in consequence of presence of transversal dividing walls and stock with plates.

It is also known the PCM which contains two cameras with setted in their top branch pipes for supplying fresh and removal exhausted air connected among themselves in the bottom by flexible conduit, and also a mechanism of reverse-translational movement of cameras in vertical plate (A.c. ¹ 1131899, Ñ12 Ì1/00, 1984).

This PCM is the nearest to the utility model about technical essence and reaching effect and is taken as proptotype.

The fault of the known PCM consists in low productivity because of the passive saturation of working liquid by air, which realizes only by diffusial way, that decreases the presence of air in it, and thus, slows down the growth of microorganisms.

In the basis of the utility model it is putted the problem of improvement of PCM in which by means of introduction of extra elements and change of placing of bottom ends of branch pipes for introduction of fresh air it ensures the growth of intensity of saturation of working liquid by air, that rises the contents of oxygen in it, and thus, accelerates the growth of microorganisms and leads to the growth of productivity.

The putted problem is solved by that in the PCM which contains two cameras with located in their top branch pipes for supplying fresh and removal of exhausted air, connected among themselves in the bottom by flexible conduit, and also a mechanism of reverse-translational movement of cameras in vertical plate, according to utility model the new is that she is equipped with located in branch pipes for supplying fresh air admission valves, and in branch pipes for removal of exhausted air – exhaust valves, hereby, the bottom ends of branch pipes for supplying sterile air are placed in bottom parts of cameras.

The indicated distinguishing features ensure the passing of fresh air through the working fluid at receipting of it into cameras, that is absent in prototype, and it increases the saturation of working liquid by air, and thus, by oxygen. The increase of oxygen in working liquid accelerates the growth of microorganisms and leads to the growth of productivity.

The proposed PCM is schematically shown on the fig.1.

The PCM contains two  cameras 2, 3, with located in their top branch pipes 4 for supplying fresh and branch pipes 5 – for removal of exhausted air, connected among themselves in the bottom by flexible conduit. Branch pipes 4 for incoming of fresh air are equipped with located in them admission valves 6, and branch pipes for removal of exhausted air – with exhaust valves 7, which in workless state are reside in closed condition and overlap the canals of branch pipes.

Valves 6, 7 carried out in the form of placed with tension in the branch pipes 4, 5 hollow insertions with spring-loaded balls 8, and the bottom ends 9 of branch pipes 6 for income of air into cameras 2, 3 located in the bottom parts of cameras.

Valves 6, 7 except lined, may have another known construction, and the branch pipes 4, 5 may be equipped with putted on them filters (not shown). Cameras 2, 3 have technological branch pipes 15 for insertion of working liquid, and the flexible conduit 1 – contains the cock 16 for pouring off the contents of cameras and technological overlap of conduit.

The PCM works in next way.

One of the previously sterilized cameras, for example in the shown on the scheme position camera 2, is filling up with nutrient liquid and culture broth (working liquid), whereupon it is opening the cock 16 on the conduit 1.

The opening of the cock 16 leads to overflowing of working liquid 17 by conduit 1 from camera 1 into camera 3, and thus, to decreasing of pressure of air in the camera 2 and its increasing in the camera 3. The change of the pressure in camera 2 leads to opening admission valve 6 of the branch pipe 4 and to the income of fresh air in it. So far as the bottom end 9 of the branch pipe 4 is located in the bottom of camera 2, then air, that comes through it (as it is shown by the help of arrows), pass through the working liquid 17 and mix with it. Simultaneous with income by branch pipe 4 of fresh air into camera 2, air from camera 3 is ejecting through its branch pipe 5, so far as its valve 7 is situated under the influence of heightened pressure abroach in it.

After filling the camera 3 to the necessary level with working liquid, the control block 11 turns on the motor-reducer 10 and changes the location of cameras in vertical plate: camera 2- remove to the bottom, and camera 3 – into top position, in which they stay on determined for overflowing time. The overflowing of working liquid between cameras in changed position goes in reverse straight that is from camera 3 into camera 2, by earlier described way

After the necessary number of cycles of transference, the contents of cameras is pouring off through the cock 16 for its next use.

As at pouring off the working liquid between cameras 2, 3 pure air arrives in them through the working liquid, instead of direct income in prototype, the contents of oxygen in working liquid increases , and it accelerates the growth of microorganisms and increases the productivity.