The engineering design of fermentation unit for microbial plant protection products small-scale manufacturing

Abstract

Annotation Purpose. Fermentation unit development based of thin-walled bioreactors for microbial plant protection products manufacturing. Methods. System design technique, cost-effectiveness analysis, experimental proof and tests. Results. The fermentation unit was designed. It consists of upgraded industrial sterilizer for nutrient medium making and it further sterilization, two thin-walled fermenters, which could be run in two agitation modes: air bubbling and external loop circulation by pump. Equipment sterilization was substituted by disinfect cleaning and steaming. Air and water flows were sterilized by filtration and UV-radiation. Conclusions 1. The engineering design of modern fermentation unit FU-500 with 500 dm3 per cycle capacity was developed, intended for further design documents development and also for using in investment projects. 2. The design of cleaning and sterilization procedures support was worked out, specifically easy-removal piping system was employed; fermentation vessels were fitted with minimum amount of connecting sockets and had no prominent parts inside. 3. In comparison with the fermentation complex CFM-420 the present engineering design permits technical and economical parameters significant improvement, in particular capacity increasing at 19 %, equipment weight decrease at 47 %, rated output power reduction at 69 % and 60 % operating aria save. Keywords: design, thin-walled fermenter, simplified sterilization, plant protection.