US2004086609A1PendingUtilityA1

Anaerobic fermentation method and apparatus

31
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Nov 6, 2002Filed: Nov 6, 2003Published: May 6, 2004
Est. expiryNov 6, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Andre PazikDaniel C. Kornacki
G01N 33/146C12L 11/00C12G 2200/31C12G 1/0206G01N 33/4977
31
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring a liquid undergoing anaerobic fermentation in a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an airlock containing a fluid for sealing the vessel and means to detect passage of bubbles through the airlock.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for determining an amount of alcohol produced during anaerobic fermentation in a sealed anaerobic fermentation vessel containing a liquid being fermented, said vessel sealed with an airlock, the method comprising the steps of: 
 counting bubbles which pass through said airlock to determine a volume of gas produced, said bubbles detected by an optical detector; and,    determining said amount of alcohol produced based on said volume of gas produced.    
     
     
         2 . The method recited in  claim 1  further including the step of determining the interval between bubbles so that the rate of fermentation may be determined.  
     
     
         3 . The method recited in  claim 1  further including the step of activating an alarm when a desired amount of alcohol is produced.  
     
     
         4 . The method recited in  claim 1  wherein said airlock is an “S” type airlock.  
     
     
         5 . The method recited in  claim 1  further including the step of correcting said amount of alcohol produced based on an elevation of said vessel.  
     
     
         6 . A method for measuring gas produced during anaerobic fermentation comprising the steps of: 
 providing a vessel suitable for anaerobic fermentation;    placing liquid materials subject to anaerobic fermentation within the vessel;    sealing the vessel with an “S” type airlock; and,    counting the bubbles which pass through the airlock to determine the volume of gas produced, said bubbles detected by an optical detector.    
     
     
         7 . The method recited in  claim 6  further comprising the step of determining the interval between bubbles so that the rate of fermentation may be determined.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for monitoring a liquid undergoing anaerobic fermentation in a vessel, comprising: 
 an airlock containing a fluid for sealing the vessel; and,    an optical detector operatively arranged to detect passage of bubbles through said airlock.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 8  wherein said airlock is an “S” type airlock.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus recited in  claim 9  wherein said airlock comprises a portion with two parallel sides.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus recited in  claim 10  wherein said optical detector engages said portion of said airlock having two parallel sides.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 8  further comprising means for determining the volume of gas produced based on said detected passage of bubbles.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12  further comprising: 
 means to determine an amount of alcohol produced based on said amount of gas produced, said amount corrected based on an altitude of said apparatus; and,  
 a display operatively arranged to display said amount of alcohol produced.  
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 an alarm operatively arranged to warn a user when a preprogrammed amount of alcohol has been produced.  
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus recited in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 means for determining the time between bubble detections; and,  
 means for determining the rate of gas production based on said time between bubble detections.  
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 an alarm operatively arranged to warn a user when no bubbles are detected for a predetermined amount of time.  
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16  wherein said predetermined amount of time is 24 hours.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 means for determining the length of time a bubble is proximate said optical detector; and,  
 an alarm operatively arranged to warn a user when the liquid in said airlock is low, based on said length of time said bubble is proximate said optical detector.  
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus recited in  claim 13  further comprising means for computing a flow rate of alcohol produced, said flow rate corrected based on an elevation of said apparatus.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 19  further comprising alarm means for signaling when said computed flow rate exceeds a flow rate threshold set by a user.  
     
     
         21 . An airlock comprising: 
 a portion having a cross section with two parallel sides.    
     
     
         22 . The airlock recited in  claim 21  wherein said portion has a polygonal cross section.  
     
     
         23 . The airlock recited in  claim 21  wherein said portion has a rectangular cross section.  
     
     
         24 . The airlock recited in  claim 21  wherein said cross section of said portion further comprises two opposing, arcuate sides.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for monitoring anaerobic fermentation comprising: 
 an airlock;    a bubble detector;    processing means connected to said detector, said processing means operatively arranged to count a number of bubbles passing through said airlock; and, communication means connected to said processing means, said communication means operatively arranged to communicate data between said processing means and an information system.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said airlock comprises a portion having two parallel sides.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said processing means comprises a general purpose microprocessor programmed to count said number of bubbles passing through said airlock.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said processing means is operatively arranged to determine a quantity of alcohol produced by said anaerobic fermentation.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said processing means is operatively arranged to measure a period of time between said bubbles passing through said airlock.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said processing means is operatively arranged to determine when said anaerobic fermentation has ended.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said processing means is operatively arranged to determine if said airlock contains an inadequate amount of liquid.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said data is said amount of alcohol produced.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said data is an alarm status.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said data is a warning that an inadequate amount of liquid is in said airlock.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said data is a warning that said anaerobic fermentation has ended.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said communication means is an RS-232 connection.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said communication means is a TCP/IP connection.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said communication means is a USB connection.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said information system is the Internet.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said information system is a personal computer.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said information system is a wireless phone system.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said information system is a pager system.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said information system is a personal digital assistant system.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  wherein said information system is a wireless local area network.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus recited in  claim 25  further comprising database means to store said data.

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