TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a fermentation system. More particularly it relates to a device for enhancing an efficiency of a fermenter.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Fermentation process is a critical process in distilleries. The fermentation of molasses is achieved by mixing molasses and process water with yeast and adding necessary promoter fluids, including but not limited to, sulfuric acid, nutrient solution, biocide solutions into it. Conventional fermentation process includes a static mixer (100’) shown in FIG. 1 for mixing the fluid supplied into the static mixer. The mixer is supplies with ferm wash and molasses for mixing inside the static mixer and supplied to a fermentation tank. Additional necessary promoter fluids were poured directly in fermentation tank from a top of the fermentation tank. However, this kind of process in which the promoter fluids being supplied directly to the fermentation tank was found to be less efficient by way of yield of the fermentation process.

One kind of mixer for fermentation process is disclosed in U.S Patent No. 3460810 (hereinafter referred to as Pat ’810). The mixer in Pat ’810 is particularly suitable for intimately admixing a liquid phase and a gaseous phase. The mixer device includes a first wall means which defines an outer chamber and second wall means which defines an inner chamber. The inner chamber is located within the confines of the first wall means, and the second wall means is provided with a plurality of orifices communicating with both of the chambers. Agitating means is arranged within the inner chamber and is adapted to impart to the coarse mixture an agitation requisite for effecting circulation of the mixture in both the chambers and for ejecting a plurality of jets of the mixture from the inner chamber through the orifices and into the outer chamber. The mixer disclosed in the Pat ’810 is includes an upright pipe arrangement which may not produce efficient mixing in case of high viscous fluids such as molasses.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates to a device for enhancing an efficiency of a fermenter. The device includes a first chamber includes a plurality of inlets configured to allow passage of a main media, a stirrer disposed inside the first chamber and an outlet nozzle. The device further includes a second chamber fluidly connected to the first chamber. The second chamber includes a plurality of inlets to allow passage of one or more promoter fluids into the second chamber and an outlet configured to allow a mixture of the one or more promoter fluids from the second chamber to the first chamber. The mixture of the one or more promoter fluids gets mixed with the main media through the stirrer in the first chamber forming a homogeneous mixture being discharged through the outlet nozzle to the fermenter.

In an embodiment, the outlet of the second chamber is adapted to be extended inside the first chamber such that the mixture of one or more promoter fluids from the second chamber is discharged into the first chamber.

In an embodiment, the second chamber is configured with three inlets for allowing the passage of an acid, a nutrient and a biocide.

In an embodiment, the first chamber is configured with two inlets for allowing the passage of the main media comprising molasses and ferm wash.

In an embodiment, the stirrer includes a plurality of frusto-conical members disposed on a pipe member inside the first chamber, the frusto-conical members are configured to stir the mixture of one or more promoter fluids and the main media homogeneously.

In an embodiment, the frusto-conical members are configured to create turbulence in the first chamber for mixing the fluid.

In an embodiment, the device is static mixer.

In an embodiment, the outlet of the second chamber is fluidly connected to the pipe member of the first chamber.

In an embodiment, each of the first chamber and the second chamber includes a cylindrical body.

In an embodiment, the plurality of inlets of the second chamber is disposed radially into the cylindrical body of the second chamber and the plurality of inlets of the first chamber is disposed radially into the cylindrical body of the first chamber.

In an embodiment, the cylindrical body of the second chamber is configured to have smaller volume than the cylindrical body of the first chamber.

In an embodiment, the cylindrical body of the second chamber is configured to have volume ranging from about 1/6th to 1/3rd of the volume of the cylindrical body of the first chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a static mixer, according to a prior art;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of flow and mixing of fluids in the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
Provided below is a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claim.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrates a perspective view and a sectional view of a device (100) for enhancing an efficiency of a fermenter (not shown), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device (100) will be used in industries such as, but not limited to, sugar and starch industries for dilution and/or mixing of fluids. The fluids for dilution and/or mixing may include, but not limited to, molasses, acids, and nutrients or any other fluids or ingredient used in the sugar and starch industries. The mixing of fluids is required to be carried out to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The process of mixing the fluids is carried out to supply the mixed fluid for the fermenter. The device (100) will be connected to the fermenter for fermentation of the mixture of molasses.

In the illustrated embodiment, the device (100) includes a first chamber (102) having a plurality of inlets (104). The plurality of inlets (104) is configured to allow passage of a main media that is to be used in a fermentation process. The plurality of inlets (104) of the first chamber (102) is disposed radially into the first chamber (102). In the illustrated embodiment, the first chamber (102) is configured with two inlets (104-A, 104-B) for allowing the passage of the main media comprising molasses and ferm wash. The first chamber (102) as illustrated in the figure is embodied as a cylindrical body (106). However, the first chamber (102) may be configured to have any other shape apart from the cylindrical shape which may facilitate in smooth flow of fluids inside the first chamber (102).

The cylindrical body (106) of the first chamber (102) can be firmly supported onto one or more support members (108) disposed onto a surface (not shown). The one or more support members (108) may be fixed connected to the cylindrical body (106) through means including, but not limited to, fasteners or welding. The first chamber (102) further includes a stirrer (110) inside the cylindrical body (106). The stirrer (110) is configured to be supported onto a pipe member (112) disposed axially in the cylindrical body (106). The stirrer (110) includes, but not limited to, a plurality of frusto-conical members (114) or a helical plate members or multiple straight or twisted blade members. The plurality of frusto-conical members (114) enhances the mixing of one or fluids having high viscosity. Mixing of the one or more fluids takes place in the first chamber (102) due to turbulence created by frusto-conical members (114). In an embodiment, the device is static mixer and does not have any rotating parts.

In the illustrated embodiment, the frusto-conical members (114) are disposed on the pipe member (112), such that a substantial portion of the first chamber (102) can be covered for stirring a mixture of fluid homogeneously. The stirrer (110) may be driven by an electrical motor (not shown) through gear transmission (not shown). In an embodiment, the frusto-conical members (114) of the stirrer (110) may be fixed onto the pipe member (112) through welding process. In another embodiment, the frusto-conical members (114) may be connected directly to a transmission mechanism and without connecting to the pipe member (112). The frusto-conical members (114) in the illustrated embodiment embodies a dish shaped conical structure, where tapered portions of the frusto-conical members (114) are oriented towards the plurality of inlets (104) of the first member (102) and an outlet (116) of a second chamber (118) of the device (100).

The second chamber (118) of the device (100) is fluidly connected to the first chamber (102). The second chamber (118) embodies a cylindrical body (120) configured with a plurality of inlets (122) on its outer surface (124). The plurality of inlets (122) is configured to allow a passage for one or more promoter fluids into the second chamber (118). In the illustrated embodiment, the second chamber (118) is configured with three inlets (122-A, 122-B, 122-C) disposed radially into the cylindrical body (120) for allowing the passage of an acid, a nutrient and a biocide, respectively. The second chamber (118) including the outlet (116) is configured to allow a mixture of the one or more promoter fluids from the second chamber (118) to the first chamber (102). In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet (116) of the second chamber (118) is fluidly connected to the pipe member (112) of the first chamber (102). The outlet (116) of the second chamber (118) is adapted to be extended inside the first chamber (102) such that the mixture of one or more promoter fluids from the second chamber (118) is discharged into the first chamber (102) and can get mixed with the main media in the first chamber (102). Acid, Nutrient and Biocide are stored in a separate tank (not shown) and are added in the second chamber (118) after individual tank level measurement. They are added on the second chamber (118) so that three inlets can be taken in one space for further addition in fermented wash through pipe member (112). This construction will help for pressure reduction in the second chamber (118). Direct addition to first chamber (102) will not have effective mixing effect, like it happens when mixed fluid comes out of holes of pipe member (112) and get mixed with the fluid in turbulence created by frusto-conical members (114).

In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical body (120) of the second chamber (118) is configured to have smaller volume than the cylindrical body (106) of the first chamber (102). This is because, the quantity of one or more promoter fluids in the second chamber (118) are less than the quantity of the main media in the first chamber (102). Additionally, since the first chamber (102) is required to have the stirrer (110) inside the cylindrical body (106), the volume of the first chamber (102) is configured to be larger than the volume of the second chamber (118).

In an embodiment, the cylindrical body of the second chamber is configured to have volume ranging from about 1/6th to 1/3rd of the volume of the cylindrical body of the first chamber. Sizing of the device (100) may vary to large extent depending upon number of parameters such as feedstock properties, design alcohol concentration in the Fermenter, Recirculation pump capacity.
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of flow and mixing of fluids in the device (100) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device (100) includes two separate chambers for mixing of various fluids as explained above in FIGS. 2 and 3. Also, as explained in the above figures, the second chamber (118) includes three inlets (122-A, 122-B, 122-C) for three fluids i.e. acid, nutrient, and biocide respectively. All these three fluids come in direct contact with each other in the second chamber (118) and are discharged at the outlet (116) through the pipe member (112).

The main media i.e. molasses and ferm wash are mixed thoroughly in the first chamber (102), while passing over the frusto-conical members (114). A fluid mixture from both the first chamber (102) and the second chamber (118) get mixed with the help of the stirrer (110) and discharged as a single homogenous mixture through an outlet nozzle (126) of the first chamber (102). That is to say, the stirrer (110) in the first chamber (102) not only mixes the main media, it also mixes the mixture of the acid, the nutrient, and the biocide coming from the outlet (116) of the second chamber (118) to produce the homogeneous mixture of supplied fluids. Thus, the fermenter enhancer device is configured to provide homogenously mix having the main media and the one or more promoter fluids to form the homogeneous mixture.

The homogeneous mixture may from the outlet nozzle (126) may be sent to the fermenter device for further fermentation of the homogeneous mixture. As the homogeneous mixture of the molasses, the ferm wash, the acid, the nutrient, and the biocide is supplied to the fermentation device as a single homogeneous mixture, the fermentation process is observed to be more efficient than the fermentation process in which the acid, the nutrient, and the biocide were supplied at a tank (not shown) of the fermentation device separately.

Advantages
In an embodiment, the disclosed fermenter enhancer device provides better fermentation process.

In an embodiment, the disclosed fermenter enhancer device provides greater control on the different fluids quantity.

In an embodiment, an objective of obtaining a homogeneous mixture of all the fluids which are used in the fermentation process is obtained by the disclosed fermenter enhancer device. Thereby providing effective fermentation.

In an embodiment, the disclosed fermenter enhancer device having two mixing chambers enhances the fermenter efficiency.

In an embodiment, the disclosed fermenter enhancer device provides an improvement in the mixing index of promoter fluids with complete media in a fermenter tank.

In an embodiment, the second chamber of the fermenter enhancer device can be retrofitted to an existing cylindrical body of mixer.

In an embodiment, Acid, Nutrient and Biocide are added on the second chamber so that three inlets can be taken in one space for further addition in fermented wash through pipe member. This construction will help for pressure reduction in the second chamber. Direct addition to first chamber will not have effective mixing effect, like it happens when mixed fluid comes out of holes of pipe member and get mixed with the fluid in turbulence created by frusto-conical members.

Industrial Applicability
The disclosed device finds its potential application in sugar and starch based industries, in which the molasses is required to be mixed with other fluids for fermentation process. However, the disclosed device may also find its application in other industries such as, chemical industries which may be required to produce a homogeneous mixture of fluids and/or gases.

While aspects of the present invention have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by modification of the disclosed device without departing from the scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present invention as determined based upon claims and any equivalents thereof.

List of Referral Numerals

100’: Static mixer according to prior art
100: Device
102: First chamber
104: Plurality of inlets (of first chamber)
104-A: Inlet for molasses
104-B: Inlet for ferm wash
106: Cylindrical body (of first chamber)
108: Support members
110: Stirrer
112: Pipe member
114: Frusto-conical members
116: Outlet (of a second chamber)
118: Second chamber
120: Cylindrical body (of second chamber)
122: Plurality of inlets (of second chamber)
122-A: Inlet for acid
122-B: Inlet for nutrient
122-C: Inlet for biocide
124: Outer surface (of second chamber)
126: Outlet nozzle (of first chamber)

We Claim:
1. A device (100) for enhancing an efficiency of a fermenter, the device (100) comprising:
a first chamber (102) comprising a plurality of inlets (104) configured to allow passage of a main media, a stirrer (110) disposed inside the first chamber (102) and an outlet nozzle (126); and
a second chamber (118) fluidly connected to the first chamber (102), the second chamber (118) comprising a plurality of inlets (122) to allow passage of one or more promoter fluids into the second chamber (118) and an outlet (116) configured to allow a mixture of the one or more promoter fluids from the second chamber (118) to the first chamber (102), the mixture of the one or more promoter fluids gets mixed with the main media through the stirrer (110) in the first chamber (102) forming a homogeneous mixture being discharged through the outlet nozzle (126) to the fermenter.

2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet (116) of the second chamber (118) is adapted to be extended inside the first chamber (102) such that the mixture of one or more promoter fluids from the second chamber (118) is discharged into the first chamber (102).

3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second chamber (118) is configured with three inlets (122-A, 122-B, 122-C) for allowing the passage of an acid, a nutrient and a biocide.

4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first chamber (102) is configured with two inlets (104-A, 104-B) for allowing the passage of the main media comprising molasses and ferm wash.

5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stirrer (110) comprises a plurality of frusto-conical members (114) disposed on a pipe member (112) inside the first chamber (102), the frusto-conical members (114) are configured to stir the mixture of one or more promoter fluids and the main media homogeneously.

6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frusto-conical members (114) is configured to create turbulence in the first chamber (102) for mixing the fluid.

7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device (100) is static mixer.

8. The device (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 5, wherein the outlet (116) of the second chamber (118) is fluidly connected to the pipe member (112) of the first chamber (102).

9. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first chamber (102) and the second chamber (118) comprises a cylindrical body (106, 120).

10. The device (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of inlets (122) of the second chamber (118) is disposed radially into the cylindrical body (120) of the second chamber (118) and the plurality of inlets (104) of the first chamber (102) is disposed radially into the cylindrical body (106) of the first chamber (102).

11. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body (120) of the second chamber (118) is configured to have smaller volume than the cylindrical body (106) of the first chamber (102).

12. The device (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cylindrical body (120) of the second chamber (118) is configured to have volume ranging from about 1/6th to 1/3rd of the volume of the cylindrical body (106) of the first chamber (102).