| 摘要 |
<p>Process and apparatus for stimulating the growth of a microorganism culture in a series of growth zones and withdrawing metabolites produced by the culture. The chemical process is carried out in a series of vertically stacked conversion (e.g. fermentation) zones which are subdivided into movable segments. Flow from one zone to another is gravity-induced. A portion of the production medium is recirculated to an upper zone, e.g. the uppermost zone, and metabolites are withdrawn from the zones. Useful metabolites include organic liquids such as alkanols made from fermentation of carbohydrate. In apparatus (10) especially suited to the process: A generally vertically disposed fermentation tower (11) defines a generally vertically extending space containing the vertically arranged zones (15a-15h). A typical zone, e.g. zone (15c) has a floor (65c) having a drain opening (165c) for the continuous discharge by gravity of partially converted feedstock to the next lower zone (15d). Each zone (e.g. 15c) is subdivided into continuously movable segments by movable partitions (157c) for advancing the feedstock in the zone toward the drain opening. A collection means (23) disposed beneath a drain opening (165c) continuously collects a portion of the partially converted feedstock and recirculates it through a recirculation system (20) to the uppermost zone (15a). The products of the process are withdrawn by a suitable means (41) communicating with the lower end of the tower (11). </p> |
