Patent ID: 8527102

Claim:
A biofuel production system, comprising: a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters; a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and comprising a plurality of cooling tower water control valves configured to meter the cooling water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters; a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and comprising a plurality of chiller water control valves configured to meter the chiller water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters; and a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system, wherein the cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters by adjusting the plurality of cooling tower water control valves and the plurality of chiller water control valves to control a recirculation temperature.