Transfer device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10106767-B2
Application number	US-201715452807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A transfer device includes at least one pump unit provided for a defined gas transfer between a first, closed-off space of an installation, in particular a photobioreactor installation, and a second space which is separate from the first space. The at least one pump unit is embodied as a selective oxygen pump.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An installation comprising
a first, closed-off space;
a transfer device with at least one pump unit for a defined gas transfer between the first space and a second space, which is separate from the first space and forms an environment of the installation, wherein the at least one pump unit is embodied as a selective oxygen pump, by which, independently of a prevailing gas mixture and as required, oxygen is selectively transferred out of the first space and into the second space or selectively transferred out of the second space and into the first space, which reduces or increases an oxygen concentration in the first space;
at least one photobioreactor unit for receiving fed-in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), generating oxygen (O 2 ) via photosynthesis and outputting oxygen (O 2 ), wherein the photobioreactor unit is arranged in the first space, and
at least one control and regulation unit for regulating an absolute oxygen partial fraction in the first space, outside a reaction area of the at least one photobioreactor unit, to no more than 20% by controlling a power source of the pump unit, wherein the control and regulation unit comprises a control electronics component and a sensor for monitoring the absolute oxygen partial fraction.

2. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pump unit comprises at least one zirconium oxide element for a selective transfer of oxygen (O 2 ) out of the first space into the second space.

3. The installation according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one pump unit comprises at least one heating element for heating the at least one zirconium oxide element.

4. The installation according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one zirconium oxide element of the at least one pump unit is implemented by a doped zirconium oxide element.

5. The installation according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one zirconium oxide element of the at least one pump unit bi-directionally transfers, depending on a polarity of a pump flow, oxygen between the first space and the second space.

6. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pump unit specifically and selectively separates oxygen (O 2 ).

7. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pump unit electrically reduces in at least one operating state at least one gas.

8. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pump unit accumulates a reduced gas in the first space and/or the second space.

9. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer device comprises at least one measuring unit for capturing a voltage difference between at least two sides of the pump unit.

10. The installation according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one measuring unit deducts a pressure difference between the first space and the second space on the basis of the voltage difference.

11. The installation according to claim 1 , further comprising a control and/or regulation unit for controlling and/or regulating an absolute oxygen partial fraction in the first space outside a reaction area via the transfer device.

12. A method for operating the installation according to claim 1 , wherein the method includes controlling, via the transfer device, an absolute oxygen partial fraction in the first space outside a reaction area.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the method includes using the transfer device for monitoring and/or for adjusting at least one safety-relevant operating state.

14. The installation according to claim 1 , comprising a carbon dioxide tank, which is connected to the first space by a valve via a line, wherein for a reaction of the photobioreactor unit, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is conveyed into the first space from the carbon dioxide tank, wherein a quantity of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) conveyed into the first space is controlled via the valve.

15. A transfer device with at least one pump unit for a defined gas transfer between a first, closed-off space of an installation and a second space, which is separate from the first space, wherein
the at least one pump unit is embodied as a selective oxygen pump and comprises at least one zirconium oxide element for a selective transfer of oxygen (O 2 ) out of the first space into the second space,
the zirconium oxide element is embodied as a tube, which is closed on one end and forms a hollow space inside,
the hollow space is connected to the first space but is closed-off from the second space, and the closed end of the zirconium element protrudes into the second space,
the at least one pump unit further comprises a guiding tube protruding from the first space into the hollow space,
the guiding tube is spaced apart from the zirconium oxide element and extends parallel to the zirconium oxide element to a point shortly before the closed end of the zirconium oxide element,
the guiding tube serves for guiding gas flowing into the hollow space, and
via the guiding tube, gas can flow into the hollow space, and gas situated in the hollow space flows in a gap of the hollow space, between the guiding tube and the zirconium oxide element, out of the hollow space to allow for circulation.

16. A transfer device according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one pump unit further comprises two electrodes for catalyzing the dissociation of oxygen-containing gases, and wherein one electrode is positioned on an inner wall of the zirconium oxide element, which surrounds the hollow space, and the second electrode is positioned inside the second space on an outer wall of the zirconium oxide element.

17. A transfer device according to claim 15 , wherein
the at least one pump unit further comprises at least one heating element for heating the zirconium oxide element,
the at least one heating element is positioned in the second space around the zirconium oxide element and the second electrode,
the at least one heating element extends parallel to a main extension direction of the zirconium oxide element, and
the at least one heating element is spaced apart from the zirconium oxide element.

18. A transfer device according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one zirconium oxide element is test-tube-shaped.

Assignees

• Airbus Ds Gmbh

Inventors

• Hartstein Heinz
• Kern Peter

Classifications

• C12M29/22

  Oxygen discharge · CPC title

• C12M21/02 Primary

  Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12) · CPC title

• C12Q3/00

  Condition responsive control processes (apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05) · CPC title

• C12M41/40

  of pressure · CPC title

• C12M29/00 Primary

  Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps (pumps per se F04B) · CPC title