Bacteria-based gas generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10563158-B2
Application number	US-201615144954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2016
Priority date	Feb 6, 2009
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a container having dry chamber and a ballast chamber therein;
a pressure chamber in the container;
a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber;
wherein the pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure;

a vent coupled to the pressure chamber configurable to allow the gas pressure in the chamber to increase and configurable to release a gas produced by the microorganism into the dry chamber;
a gas valve capable of moving the gas between the dry chamber and the ballast chamber; and
a ballast valve capable of moving a liquid between the ballast chamber and the exterior of the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is a fermentative gas-producing microorganism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is a hydrogen-, methane- or carbon dioxide-producing microorganism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is Clostridium sp. or Clostridium acetobutylicum.

5. A method comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 1 ;
placing a food source for the microorganism within the pressure chamber; and
waiting for the gas pressure in the pressure chamber to increase to at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
venting a portion of the gas through the vent.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
repeating waiting for the gas pressure to increase and venting a portion of the gas one or more times.

8. A method comprising
providing the apparatus of claim 1 ;
wherein the pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 10 psi above atmospheric pressure;

placing a food source for the microorganism within the pressure chamber; and
waiting for the gas pressure in the pressure chamber to increase to at least 10 psi above atmospheric pressure.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
venting a portion of the gas through the vent.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
repeating waiting for the gas pressure to increase and venting a portion of the gas one or more times.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a chamber having a gas inlet, a gas vent, and a liquid vent;
a float and a weight coupled to the chamber;
a pressure chamber coupled to the gas inlet;
a gas-producing microorganism within the pressure chamber;
wherein the pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure; and
wherein the gas inlet is configurable to allow the gas pressure in the pressure chamber to increase and configurable to release a gas produced by the microorganism;
wherein the float has a lower density than the chamber;
wherein the weight has a higher density than the chamber;
wherein the aggregate density of the chamber, the float, and the weight is greater than the density of the chamber; and
wherein the gas inlet, the gas vent, the liquid vent, the float, the weight, and the pressure chamber are positioned on the chamber such that:
when the chamber is filled with and submerged in a liquid in which the chamber is neutrally-buoyant, the chamber is oriented to place the gas vent below the gas inlet; and
when the gas is introduced through the gas inlet into the chamber that is filled with the liquid, the chamber pivots to raise the gas vent until a portion of the gas escapes from the chamber through only the gas vent.

12. A method comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 11 ;
placing a food source for the microorganism within the pressure chamber; and
waiting for the gas pressure in the pressure chamber to increase to at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
venting a portion of the gas through the gas inlet.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
repeating waiting for the gas pressure to increase and venting a portion of the gas one or more times.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a pressure chamber;
a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber;
wherein the pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure;

a vent coupled to the pressure chamber configurable to allow the gas pressure in the chamber to increase and configurable to release gas produced by the microorganism;
an inflatable bladder coupled to the vent; and
a release valve coupled to the bladder.

16. A method comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 15 ;
placing a food source for the microorganism within the pressure chamber; and
waiting for the gas pressure in the pressure chamber to increase to at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
venting a portion of the gas through the gas inlet.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
repeating waiting for the gas pressure to increase and venting a portion of the gas one or more times.

Assignees

• Us Gov Sec Navy

Inventors

• Spargo Barry J
• Biffinger Justin C
• Ringeisen Bradley R
• Pirlo Erinn C (Howard)
• Fitzgerald Lisa A
• Wu Peter K
• Malito Michael P

Classifications

• C12M41/40

  of pressure · CPC title

• C12M21/04 Primary

  for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10) · CPC title

• C12M29/20

  Degassing; Venting; Bubble traps (means for collection or storage of gas C12M23/36; gas collection apparatus for laboratory use B01L5/02) · CPC title

• C12M23/36

  Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders · CPC title

• C12P5/00

  Preparation of hydrocarbons {or halogenated hydrocarbons} · CPC title