Control of bioreactor processes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017175064-A1
Application number	US-201715453878-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 22, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Processes, as well as associated systems and computer program (software) products, are disclosed for the biological conversion of CO into desired end products such as ethanol. The control methodologies used for these processes can advantageously result in a reduced time required for a batch operation or other initial operating period, prior to achieving a continuous operation, which may be demarcated either by the addition of fresh culture medium at a defined flow rate or by another process initiation target. The control methodologies may alternatively, or in combination, improve a process performance parameter, such as productivity of the desired end product or bacterial growth rate, during this batch operation or other initial operating period.

First claim

1 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program including instructions for causing a processor to perform the steps of:
receiving, from an analyzer configured to analyze a sample of a culture medium from a bioreactor, a measured property of the culture medium, and inputting, to a controller configured to control a basic neutralizing agent flow rate to the bioreactor, the measured property of the culture medium as a basis for control, wherein the measured property is selected from the group consisting of an acidic metabolite measured concentration, an acidic metabolite measured productivity, a carboxydotrophic bacteria measured concentration, a carboxydotrophic bacteria measured productivity, or a combination thereof.

2 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program including instructions for causing a processor to perform the steps of:
receiving a CO-containing substrate measured flow rate to a bioreactor or a CO-containing substrate flow rate set point, inputting, to a controller configured to control a basic neutralizing agent flow rate to the bioreactor, the CO-containing substrate measured flow rate or the CO-containing substrate flow rate set point as a basis for control.

3 . The computer program product of claim 2 , wherein the computer program includes instructions for causing the processor to perform the further steps of:
receiving a measured pH value, and inputting, to a second controller configured to control a CO-containing substrate flow rate, the measured pH value as a basis for control.

4 . The computer program product of claim 2 , wherein the measured pH value is received from an analyzer configured to analyze a sample of a culture medium from the bioreactor.

5 . A system comprising:
a bioreactor, a controller configured to control a basic neutralizing agent flow rate to the bioreactor, based on a CO-containing substrate measured flow rate to the bioreactor or a CO-containing substrate flow rate set point.

6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a second controller configured to control a CO-containing substrate flow rate based on a measured pH value.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a sampling apparatus configured to isolate, from the bioreactor, a sample of a culture medium, and an analyzer configured to analyze the sample and input, to the controller, the measured pH value.

Assignees

• Lanzatech New Zealand Ltd

Inventors

• Collet Christophe
• Waters Guy William
• Bromley Jason Carl
• Yang Justin Yi
• Wilson Jarod Nathan

Classifications

• C12M41/48

  Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00) · CPC title

• C12M41/26

  of pH · CPC title

• C12P7/065 Primary

  with microorganisms other than yeasts · CPC title

• C12M21/12 Primary

  for producing fuels or solvents (C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00) · CPC title

• G16B99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title