Novaferm AB develops, manufactures and markets, complete fermenter systems for use in laboratory and industrial applications.

If you need a customized solution in the field of biotechnologies, Novaferm is the ideal partner to find the solution that suits your specific needs. Vi are active in Pharmaceutical. Nutraceutical, Food Biotechnologies, Milk and Dairy Farming, Chemicals and general Process Plants.

The fermenter is a laboratory/pilot fermenter designed with special features for work under aseptic conditions. It is equipped with magnetically coupled agitator, flat turbine impeller that easily can be changed e.g. to marine type propeller. The aeration system allows air flows of up to 2 VVM. Electrode and sample ports are placed in the top cover, above the liquid level as well as the viewing glass. The sparger for aeration is easily exchangeable or removable for different methods of aeration. The vessel can be provided with central draft tube. To facilitate cleaning and preparation, the fermenter is mounted tiltable on a movable stand.

Piping and Control Cabinet

The cabinet is a floor standing unit built on a frame of stainless steel profiles. It can be provided with wheels for easy moving of the complete system. It contains all necessary controls for the culture vessel.

The lower part of the unit 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 at the front of the unit. The system may optionally include also an electronic measurement of the gas flow, and regulation through the control system by mass flow sensor and control valve in the gas inlet line. The basic gas flow system is for air. Additional gas flow systems can be added, e.g. for O2 and/or N2.

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

Connections to the fermenter are placed at the left hand side, with clamp quick-connections for the flexible hoses.

The upper part of the unit contains the microprocessor control system and additional instrumentation. It is placed at the level about 1.5 m from the floor for convenient operation.

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

The Electric Unit is mounted in the lower, right part of the unit and contains electric equipment to execute the control signals from the microprocessor control system. The unit comprises contactors and relays for the circulation pump and heater, fuses, transformers etc. and the agitator speed control unit.

Control Unit

The system can be 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 software for operator interface, but not hardware is included in the standard package.

Sensor Kit

The standard kit contains the following:

  • 2 pcs Pt100 sensor with cable 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.

Pump Unit

Peristaltic pump for dosing of acid, alkali or other addition. Fix speed pump. Including glass container, tubing, sterile filter and needles. Container, hose and needles to be sterilised in autoclave. Delivered with silicone hose diameter 6,4/3,2 mm.

Production fermenter designed with special features for work under aseptic conditions. It is equipped with magnetically coupled agitator, flat turbine impeller that easily can be changed e.g. to marine type propeller. The aeration system allows air flows of up to 2 VVM. Electrode and sample ports are placed in side and in the top cover. Sight glass in top cover. The sparger is easily exchangeable or removable for different methods of aeration. The vessel can be provided with central draft tube. To facilitate cleaning and preparation, the fermenter is mounted tiltable on a stationary stand.

Production fermenter designed with special features for work under aseptic conditions. It is equipped with magnetically coupled agitator, flat turbine impeller that easily can be changed e.g. to marine type propeller. The aeration system allows air flows of up to 2 VVM. Electrode and sample ports are placed in side and in the top cover. Sight glass in top cover. The sparger is easily exchangeable for different methods of aeration. The vessel can be provided with central draft tube. To facilitate cleaning and preparation, the fermenter is mounted tiltable on a stationary stand.

Production fermenter designed with special features for work under aseptic conditions. It is equipped with magnetically coupled agitator, flat turbine impeller that easily can be changed e.g. to marine type propeller. The aeration system allows air flows of up to 2 VVM. Electrode and sample ports are placed in side and in the top cover. Sight glass in top cover. The sparger is easily exchangeable or removable for different methods of aeration. The vessel can be provided with central draft tube. To facilitate cleaning and preparation, the fermenter is mounted tiltable on a movable stand.

Fermenter
Laboratory fermenter in acid resistant stainless steel with working volume 2-5 l for automatic sterilisation in place.

The fermenter vessel is mounted directly on the drive unit and secured with a special clamp. Steam and water to the vessel jacket are supplied from the drive unit without external tubings.

The parts inside the fermenter (baffles, sparger, agitator) can easily be removed to facilitate cleaning and changing of process. All process connections to the fermenter are O-ring sealed.

Included in the basic set-up are also filters for in- and outgoing gas, impeller of turbine type, drain tube, sampling valve, baffle, sparger, viewing glass on side and a set of tools and basic spares. Sterilisable, aseptic bottom valve can be added as an option.

Drive and Piping Unit

Floor standing unit built on a frame of stainless steel profiles. It can be provided with wheels for easy moving of the complete system. It contains all necessary controls for the culture vessel.

The lower part of the unit contains the agitator motor with the outer magnetic part and valves, circulation pump, heater etc. to connect 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 at the right side of the unit. The gas system has also a separate bypass valve with an adjustable flow restriction valve and a solenoid valve that can be pulse driven from the control system.

The system may optionally include also an electronic measurement of the gas flow and regulation through the control system by sensor (mass-flow sensor) and control valve in the gas inlet line.

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

The upper part of the unit contains the microprocessor control system and additional instrumentation. It is placed at the level about 1.5 m from the floor for convenient operation.

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

The Electric Unit is mounted in the lower, left part of the unit and contains electric equipment to execute the control signals from the microprocessor control system. The unit comprises contactors and relays e.g. for the circulation pumps and heater, fuses, transformers etc. and the agitator speed control unit.

Control Unit

The system can be 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 software for operator interface, but not hardware is included in the standard package.

Sensor Kit

The standard kit contains the following:

  • 2 pcs Pt100 sensor with cable 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.

Pump Unit
Peristaltic pump for dosing of acid, alkali or other addition. Fix speed pump. Including glass container, tubing, sterile filter and needles. Container, hose and needles to be sterilised in autoclave. Delivered with silicone hose diameter 6,4/3,2 mm.

Technical Specification
Fermenter Vessel, 7 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, electropolished
Conditioning, vessel exterior: Ground, grit 220, electropolished
Bottom: Dished, with agitator

Jacket
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Working pressure: 4 bar overpressure and full vacuum

Lid
Material: Acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L
Conditioning: Ground, grit 220, electropolished Flat, with six clamps.

Viewing glass: On side
Agitator Bottom mounted, magnetically coupled agitator with AC motor 0,5 kW, speed 0-1500 rpm. Impeller, flat turbine, 6 blades.
Seals Material, packings and seals: EPDM

Connections
Connections in lid: 5 pcs E-connections, diam. 25 mm
Connections in side: 5 pcs E-connections, diam. 25 mm
Connections in bottom: 1 pce temp. sensor pocket, diam. 6 mm
Connection for jacket: TC-clamp flange

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 equal to AISI 316L for Pt 100 sensor
Sterile filter
Filter housings for in- and outgoing air. For 0.22 µm hydrophobic PTFE filter cartridges.
Accessories
Sampler in acid resistant stainless steel equal to AISI 316L. In situ sterilisable
Rubber septum connector, with 7 holes
Emptying tube for E-connection in lid
Sight glass illumination
Seal kit
Tool kit
Volume
Total volume 7 l, working volume 2-5 l.
Dimensions H=640 mm, W=250 mm
Vessel diam.(inner)=165 mm
Weight, approx. 25 kg
Design According to the Swedish Code for pressure vessels

Technical Specification
Drive Unit for Laboratory Fermenters 7-25 L

MATERIAL
Cabinet: Stainless steel Tubing: Acid resistant stainless steel Components: Mainly stainless steel, some brass/gunmetal
CONNECTION DATA AUX. AIR Conn.No. 8 Max. consumption 5 l/min free air
PROCESS GAS IN Conn.No. 10 Max. consumption 10 - 40 l/min free gas depending on vessel size
WATER Conn.No. 15 Max. consumption 20 l/min
STEAM Conn.No. 10 Rec. min capacity 15 kg/h
CLEAN STEAM Conn. No. 10 Rec. min capacity 3 kg/h (appr. 3 kg/batch culture)
DRAIN, WATER Conn. No. 15 Max. capacity 20 l/min
DRAIN, COND. Conn. No. 10 Max. capacity 1 l/min

ELECTRICITY
Voltage (see below)
Max. consumption 2 kW
Gas filter, in Conn. No. 8 (TC)
Gas filter, out Conn. No. 8 (TC)
Vessel jacket, up Conn. No. 10 (Via special clamp conn.)
Vessel jacket, down Conn. No. 10 (Via special clamp conn.)
Reflux condenser, down Conn. No. 8 (TC)
Reflux condenser, up Conn. No. 8 (TC)
All connections for inlet supplies media are provided with female pipe thread type BSP. Can optionally be delivered with PTFE-connection hoses.

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. 5o below min. vessel control temp
STEAM Pressure 2 bar Dry, saturated, particle free
CLEAN STEAM Pressure 1.5 bar Dry, saturated, pyrogen free
DRAIN Free flow
ELECTRICITY Voltage 3x380V+N+G, 50 Hz Transient free, voltage stability +-5%

AUSTRALIA

DENMARK

NORWAY

BANGLADESH

ESTONIA

ROMANIA

BELGIUM

FINLAND

RUSSIA

BRAZIL

FRANCE

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

BULGARIA

GERMANY

SWEDEN

CANADA

GREECE

SWITZERLAND

CZECH REPUBLIC

HOLLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

CROATIA

INDIA

USA

CUBA

LATVIA

YUGOSLAVIA

The Novaferm Fermenter Control System is a microprocessor control system for direct digital control of fermentation processes based on programmable logical controllers (PLC) from the SIMATIC S7 (Siemens) family. The modular concept allows control of fermenter systems from laboratory to industry scale. The system operates as a powerful stand alone control system, for the basic fermenter controls, including sequence control, PID control, cascade controls etc.

The operator interface (HMI) is based on a standard Pentium PC with special operator software (PC Operator Program) operating under WNT/W2K/WXP.

Microprocessor Control Systems for direct digital control of fermentation processes. Built on standard PLC systems. The modular concept allows control of fermenter systems from laboratory to industrial scale. It operates as a powerful stand alone control system for the basic fermenter controls, including sequence control, PID-control etc. For measurement and/or control of agitation, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, foam, gas flow, pressure, redox, turbidity, load, glucose, oxygen and carbon dioxide in exit gas etc. Mounted on a 19" profile and contained in separate cabinet or mounted directly in the instrument part of the piping cabinet.PC based operator interface. The WNT/W2K/WXP based operator program, can be controlled by the operator from key board, by mouse or from touch screen. Graphic presentation of real time data, logging of data to file etc.

Viewer program for viewing the process in networks.

Supports communication with external systems via PROFIBUS.

A more comprehensive specification of the Novaferm Fermenter Control System can be found here.

Our standard systems can be equipped with a variety of accessories. The list below gives some examples of accessory equipment.

Mechanical Foam Breakers

Aseptic Bottom Valves

Aseptic Transfer Lines

Steam Sealed Lid and Penetrators (S-connections)

Marine type Propellers and Impellers

Drain Tubes for aseptic processing of liquids

Aseptic Sampler Valves

Sampling/Inoculation Bottles made of acid resistant stainless steel

Inoculation Systems

Reflux Condensers

Peristaltic Dosing Pumps

Dosing Vessels

Incinerators

CIP Systems (cleaning in place systems)

Bulk autoclaves for batch sterilisation of e.g. agar solutions and pharmaceutical solutions for injection.

The systems ca be adapted to the process requirements.

The basic equipment comprises:

  • Aseptic, jacketed pressure vessel made of acid resistant stainless steel with sterile filters, magnetically coupled agitator, sensors etc.
  • Piping and control cabinet with piping, valves, heater, circulation pump, electrical unit with frequency inverter etc.
  • Control system
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Novaferm AB Gjuterivägen 6M,  SE-31132 FALKENBERG SWEDEN