Stirring apparatus for stirring microorganisms in a culturing medium

摘要

The invention provides a stirring apparatus for stirring microorganisms such as, an alga in a culturing medium. The stirring apparatus includes one or more supporting structures. The stirring apparatus further includes a plurality of paddle units operatively connected to the one or more supporting structures. The plurality of paddle units are submerged in the culturing medium holding the microorganisms. Further, the plurality of paddle units are configured to rotate for stirring the microorganisms in the culturing medium. In response to the rotation of the plurality of paddle units, the stirring apparatus propels in the culturing medium.

主权项

1. A stirring apparatus for stirring microorganisms in a culturing medium, the stirring apparatus comprising:
a plurality of circular troughs, each circular trough forming a continuous raceway ring and stacked on top of each other to form a stack of continuous raceway rings, each circular trough suitable for containing a bioreactor fluid comprising the culturing medium, each circular trough comprising: an open top for periodically exposing microorganisms to sunlight and nutrients; at least one floating supporting structure; a plurality of paddle units coupled to the at least one floating supporting structure and submerged in the culturing medium holding the microorganisms, wherein the plurality of paddle units are configured to rotate for stirring the microorganisms and to rotate for self-propelling the floating supporting structure along the continuous raceway ring; first guide units along a first side of the floating supporting structure disposed to stabilize the floating supporting structure with respect to an inside diameter of the circular trough during propulsion; second guide units along a second side of the floating supporting structure disposed to stabilize the floating supporting structure with respect to an outside diameter of the circular trough during propulsion; each paddle unit of the plurality of paddle units comprising a shaft having an end operatively connected to a driving unit and at least one paddle blade connected to the shaft, each paddle blade extending continuously along an axial length of each shaft to be submerged in the culturing medium; and at least one of the paddle units rotating in a clockwise direction and at least one of the paddle units rotating in an anti-clockwise direction and spaced to create at least one vortex to propel the microorganisms from a bottom layer to a top layer of the culturing medium while propelling the floating supporting structure along the continuous raceway ring.