Patent ID: 7635587
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: C12M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for growing bacteria continuously, comprising: a bacteria growth chamber having a cylindrical side wall, conical bottom and open top with a removable cover; a fluid recirculation pump having an intake side in fluid communication with the conical bottom and a discharge side having a fluid recirculation line in fluid communication with a tangentially directed outlet port disposed in the side wall; a fill water supply line in fluid communication with the bacteria growth chamber through the cover; a first solenoid valve disposed in the fill water supply line to periodically introduce fill water into the growth chamber at a first predetermined interval for a first predetermined duration; a bacteria harvesting line in fluid communication with a bacteria discharge port disposed in the sidewall near the top; a flush water supply line disposed above the bacteria discharge port and the bacteria harvesting line, in fluid communication with the bacteria harvesting line; a second solenoid valve disposed in the flush water supply line to periodically introduce flush water into the bacteria harvesting line at a second predetermined interval for a second predetermined duration; a nutrient feed metering device disposed above the bacteria growth chamber to permit the introduction of nutrient into the bacteria growth chamber through the cover at a third predetermined interval; an air pump having an outlet line communicating with the bacteria growth chamber through the cover; an electrical controller preprogrammed to continuously operate the fluid recirculation pump and the air pump, to actuate the nutrient feed metering device at the third predetermined interval, to actuate the first solenoid valve at the first predetermined interval for the first predetermined duration and to actuate the second solenoid valve at the second predetermined interval for the second predetermined duration; wherein actuating the first solenoid valve to permit the flow of fill water into the bacteria growth chamber causes a portion of the fluid in the bacterial growth chamber to flow into the bacterial harvesting line and actuating the second solenoid valve to permit the flow of flush water into the bacteria harvesting line causes fluid received from the bacterial growth chamber to flow through the bacterial harvesting line; and an electrical power supply providing low voltage electrical current to the fluid recirculation pump, first and second solenoid valves, nutrient feed metering device and air pump.