Piping and Control Unit

The fermenter is provided with a piping and control system enclosed in a stainless steel, floor standing cabinet or mounted in an open frame.

In the closed cabinet type, the lower part of the cabinet contains valves, circulation pump, heater etc. to conduct gas, steam and water for sparging, sterilisation and temperature control during the process.

The gas flow can be set with a manually operated valve and is monitored by a mechanical flow meter. The system may optionally include electronic flow measurement of the gas flow and regulation through the Novaferm Fermenter Control System by sensor and control valve in the gas inlet line.

Sterilisation, cooling and fermentation temperatures are controlled by solenoid and pneumatically operated valves, circulation pump and heater governed from the computer control system. Manometers at the front indicate the pressure of the connected media.

The electric cabinet is placed at the upper part of the piping system and contains the electric components, the Novaferm Fermenter Control System and additional instrumentation. The cabinet is provided with fan for forced ventilation.

All connections of supply media are placed at the rear of the bottom frame.

Control Unit

The system is provided with the Novaferm Fermenter Control System for direct digital control of fermentation processes based on programmable logical controllers from the SIMATIC S7 (Siemens) family. The modular concept allows control of fermenter systems from laboratory to industrial scale.

The standard control system includes hard- and software for control of temperature, speed and pH and measurement of dissolved oxygen. As an option, dissolved oxygen can be cascade controlled by agitator speed and air flow. Additional parameters can be supplied on request. PC hardware is not included in the standard package.

Sensor Kit

The standard kit contains the following:

• 2 pcs Pt100 sensors with cables and connectors
• 1 pce Inductive sensor with cable and connector
• 1 pce pH sensor (Mettler) with cable and connector
• 1 pce pO₂ sensor (Mettler) with cable and connector
• 1 pce Foam sensor with cable and connector

Additional sensors on request.

Dosing Vessel Unit

The Unit consists of 3 pcs jacketed pressure vessels, each with a volume of 10 L, mounted on a mobile trolley. The unit is used for addition of acid, alkali, antifoam agent or other additives. The vessels are easily detachable for filling and cleaning. The unit is connected to compressed air, steam and drain via flexible, pressure safe teflon tubing. The same type of tubing is used for connection of the dosing lines to the fermenter penetrator.

Pneumatically actuated diaphragm valves, governed from the Novaferm Fermenter Control System, control the dosing. Pressure can be set with a regulator at the unit.

The unit is provided with manometers, safety valves and sterile gas filters.

Sterilisation of the system, including the transfer line to the fermenter, can be carried out in situ.

 Technical Specification, Fermenter Vessel, 1400 L

Vessel
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Working pressure: 3 bar overpressure and full vacuum
Conditioning, vessel interior: Ground, grit 220, polished
Conditioning, vessel exterior: Ground, grit 180, polished
Bottom: Dished, with agitator

Jacket
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Working pressure: 3 bar overpressure and full vacuum

Lid
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Conditioning: Ground, grit 220, polished
Dished, diam. 450 mm, with six clamps

Stand
Material: Epoxy painted steel
Stationary, with platform and tilting possibility

Agitator
Bottom mounted, magnetically coupled. Torque 110 Nm, power 10 kW, speed 0-800 rpm. Impeller, flat turbine, 6 blades. Other powers on request. Tungsten carbide bearings

Seals
Material, packings and seals: EPDM

Connections
Connections in lid: Sight glass, diam. 80 mm
Connections in top: 8 pcs E-connections, diam. 25 mm. Gas outlet
Connections in side, upper level: Gas inlet
Connections in side, lower level: 5 pcs E-connections, diam. 25 mm
Connections in bottom: 1 pce temp. sensor pocket, diam. 6 mm. 1 pce 2" aseptic bottom drain valve diaphragm type with TC flange outlet
Connections in jacket: TC-clamp flanges

Sparger
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Nozzle below impeller.

Baffles
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
With 4 baffle plates. Detachable.

Pt 100 pocket
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel AISI 316L for Pt 100 sensor

Sterile filter
Heated filter housing. Capacity 2000 l/min, incl. filter cartridge glass fibre deep filter type, or, with adapter, 0.22 µm hydrophobic PTFE filter cartridge

Accessories
Sampler in acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L. In situ sterilisable
Rubber septum connector with 7 holes
Stainless steel wire reinforced PTFE-hoses for connection of jacket to steam/condensate and water/drain, aeration and filter jacket to steam and drain
Sight glass illumination
Seal kit
Tool kit

Volume
Total volume 1400 l, working volume 1000 l.

Dimensions
H=3100 mm, W=1900 mm, L=1800 mm
Vessel diam.=1000 mm
Weight, approx. 700 kg

Design
According to the Swedish Code for pressure vessels

Technical Specification

Piping and Control Cabinet for Fermenters 1400 L

MATERIAL
Cabinet: Stainless steel
Tubing: Stainless steel
Components: Stainless steel, brass/gunmetal

DESIGN
As per Swedish regulations for electrical installations. Electrical parts splash protected, mainly IP54.

CONNECTION DATA
 

AUX. AIR
Conn. No. 15
Max. consumption 5 l/min free air

PROCESS GAS IN
Conn. No. 32
Max. consumption 2000 l/min free gas

WATER
Conn. No. 25
Max. consumption 80 l/min

STEAM
Conn. No. 25
Rec. min capacity 300 kg/h

DRAIN
Conn. No. 32
Max. capacity 90 l/min

ELECTRICITY
Voltage (see below)
Max. consumption 18 kW

Gas filter, in
Conn. No 50

Gas filter, out
Conn. No. 65

Vessel jacket, up
Conn. No. 25

Vessel jacket, down
Conn. No. 25

Filter jacket, up
Conn. No. 8

Filter jacket, down
Conn. No. 8

All connections for inlet supplies media are provided with female pipe thread type BSP.

MEDIA REQUIREMENTS

AUXILIARY AIR
Pressure 4-6 bar
Dry, particle free

PROCESS GAS
Pressure 2 bar
Dry, oil-free, particle free

WATER
Pressure 2-4 bar
Particle free, max. temp. 5^o below min. vessel control temp

STEAM
Pressure 2 bar
Dry, saturated, particle free

DRAIN
Free flow

ELECTRICITY
Voltage 3x380V+N+G, 50 Hz
Transient free, voltage stability +-5%

Technical Specification

Dosing Vessel Unit 3x10 L

Vessel
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Design pressure: 8 bar overpressure and full vacuum
Conditioning, vessel interior: Ground, grit 220, electropolished
Conditioning, vessel exterior: Ground, grit 220, electropolished
Bottom: Dished

Jacket
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Design pressure: 3 bar overpressure and full vacuum

Stand
Material: Stainless steel
Conditioning: Ground, grit 180, brushed
Mobile. Wheels diam. 125 mm, 2 fix, 2 pivoting

Seals
Material, packings and seals: EPDM

Sterile filter
Hydrophobic, sterile filter cartridge type

Accessories
Seal kit
Tool kit

Volume
Total volume 3x10 L

Design
According to the Swedish Code for pressure vessels