Patent · US Expired

Bed height sensing device for biological reactor

US5454938A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
19References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 1994
Grant dateOct 3, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W10/10
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a reactor apparatus including a fluid bed reactor containing a media bed composed of particulate solids and biomass adhered thereto. The reactor apparatus also includes a biomass monitoring system for measuring changes in the size of the media bed and for activating a biomass growth control system when conditions with the reactor call for removal of excess biomass. The biomass monitoring system includes a vertical tubular member that is supported in the reactor and that serves to isolate a parameter or condition indicative of the size of the media bed. The biomass monitoring system also includes a sensing device for measuring changes in the isolated parameter or condition, and a mechanism for activating the biomass growth control system when signaled by the sensing device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.