Laboratory Fermenters Equipment

Murhopye Laboratory Fermentors are available in in 3 liters to 14 liters capacities. The basic unit comprises of;

· Autoclavable Pyrex glass vessel or in-situ-sterilizable jacketed SS vessel.
· SS head plate with standard ports.
· Accurate controls for aeration, agitation and temperature.
· Mechanical shaft seal with double ball bearings for long, contamination free operation
· Magnetically coupled bottom drive optional.
· Detachable modular 19” standard control rack.

CONTROLS

» Aeration control: by varying air flow measured by rotameter or mass flow meter. The system includes air compressor, inlet & outlet filters and needle valve for adjustment and control.

» Agitation: Electronically controlled magnetically coupled or DC drive directly coupled through belt to the agitator.

» Temperature control system: Dual control system using microprocessor based PID controller. Temperature control from ambient to 75°C with ± 0.1 °C accuracy.(below ambient temperature control is possible with external chilled water ). Signal output to recorder or for retransmission is available.

OPTIONAL CONTROLS

» PH control system using micro processor based PID controller with dual output, range 0-14 pH with an accuracy of 0.1pH. Built in peristaltic pumps are used for addition of acid / alkali. Imported sterilizable electrode.
» Antifoam control- with antifoam probe and built in peristaltic pump for adding antifoaming agent as per the time interval set on the built in timer. 
» Dissolved Oxygen monitor and control system through microprocessor based PID controller and imported electrode.
» Dissolved CO2 monitor and control system through microprocessor based PID controller and imported electrode.
» Pressure control system consisting of pressure gauge, needle valve, SS exhaust condenser and membrane filter. 
» Six point recorder- multi color dot printer with variable speed chart.
» Computer control system with software- All control loops are provided with RS 232/ 485 communication capability. Software controls the fermenter, and records and presents the data in required format.

Computer control system with software- Capabilities are:

a) Menu-driven & user friendly software
b) Data monitoring and logging
c) Supervisory control of set points and output
d) Parameter monitoring, provision to display current measured values
e) Updating of controller set points
f) Setting up alarm values for each parameter
g) Reporting batch information and data
h) Indicating alarm conditions by audio visual signals
i) Archiving data for later retrieval
j) Real time graphics & analysis

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES/ FEATURES

» Sterile transfer and inoculation system: If there exists a small differential pressure between the fermentor and the inoculation vessel, a silicon tube with a needle connection at the ends could be used. Otherwise, a peristaltic pump is used for this transfer.

» Continuous culture: feed of substrate by peristaltic pump and harvest control based on level / weight of the media in the vessel.

» Boiler:A small electrically operated vertical type steam autoclave boiler can be supplied for the sterilization of the glass vessel, needles, valves and vessel up to 15 liter volume.

The Modular Baby Fermenter is designed for flexibility is a basic Fermenter suited for training and research. Depending upon the requirements, inexpensive add-on modules may be added at any time. 

THE BASIC FERMENTOR consists of:

» Autoclavable glass vessel assembles available in 1 Ltr, 2 Ltr & 3Ltr capacity.
» Magnetically coupled bottom agitator.
» Aeration system comprising of built in air compressor, needle valves, inlet & outlet filters, may be used and  rota-meter for measuring air flow rates. 
» Temperature controller for controlling temperature from 5°C above ambient temperature to 75°C.
   
The system uses hot/cold water valves, PT100 Sensor and Digital PID Controller.

SEPARATE INEXPENSIVE ADD- ON MODULES available for control of all the parameters allow operation of systems ranging from simple batch cultures to full instrumented continuous culture system, using PLC, Touch Screen HMI and SCADA Software.

» pH Control Module – this module monitors and controls pH within an accuracy of 0.1 pH by adding acid or alkali using two built in peristaltic pumps & Digital PID controller. Signal output can be sent to a recorder or data logger using a computer. The autoclavable electrode is supplied with a special SS holder.

» Foam Control Module – is used for automatic control of foam by adding antifoam using foam probe, peristaltic pump and a controller.

» Timed Pump Module - This module is used to add small volumes of antifoam agent at regular intervals from 0-2 minutes or 2 ml/hr every hour using a built in peristaltic pump.

» Nutrient/ Harvest Pump Module - This module provides simultaneous control of nutrient addition and harvest removal from the fermentor using a dual head peristaltic pump with adjustable flow rates from 0.05 ml/min to 15 ml/min. Liquid level can be controlled properly by choosing the speed and tubing size. Vessel volume between 200 ml to 800 ml can be maintained using the adjustable harvest tube depth.

» Oxygen Control Module - this module monitors and controls the dissolved oxygen content in the vessel by adding oxygen or nitrogen through automatically controlled solenoid valves. The digital PID controller controls oxygen within 5% of the set value. Signal output can be connected to a recorder or used for data logging in a computer. The autoclavable electrode is supplied with cable and fittings. 

» Rack Module - This module consists of a SS rack which can accommodate 5 litre capacity storage bottles and 250 ml sample bottles in addition to the fixing arrangement for the culture vessel during autoclaving. Totally loaded rack can be autoclaved in a 450 mm dia electrical autoclave. This saves space and facilitates easy handling.

Murhopye Pilot Fermenters are developed for volumes above 20 litres. The basic unit comprises of jacketed pressure vessel made of stainless steel with standard ports for:

•  Air inlet and outlet connection
•  Connections for acid, alkali, antifoaming agent, feed and harvest
•  Connections for continuous culture
•  Side ports for pH, oxygen and temperature probes

 Temperature Control:

•  PT-100 sensor
•  Digital PID temperature controller with dual output
•  Heat exchanger 
•  Output signal for data logger
•  Circulation pump
•  Control valves
•  Manual valves, steam traps and safety valves
•  RS 232/ 485 signal for data logging and control through computer (optional)
•  Chilled water re-circulator (optional)

Other measurement & controls

pH Control: - pH Control system using micro processor based PID controller with dual output range 0-14 pH with an accuracy of 0.1 pH. pH controlled using built in peristaltic pumps for addition of acid / alkali. Imported sterilizable electrode(optional)

OPTIONAL CONTROLS

• Antifoam control - consisting of foam probe and built in peristaltic pump for adding antifoaming agent as per the time interval set on the controller

• Dissolved Oxygen monitor and control system through microprocessor based PID controller and imported electrode.

• Dissolved CO2 monitor and control system through microprocessor based PID controller and imported electrode.

• Pressure control system consisting of pressure gauge, needle valve, SS exhaust condenser, membrane filter controller .

• Six point recorder- multi color dot printer with variable speed chart.

• Computer control system with software- All control loops are provided with RS 232/ 485 communication capability

Computer control system with software capabilities are:

a) Menu-driven & user friendly software
b) Data monitoring and logging
c) Supervisory control of set points and output
d) Parameter monitoring, provision to display current measured values
e) Updating of controller set points
f) Setting up alarm values for each parameter
g) Reporting batch information and data
h) Indicating alarm conditions by audio visual signals
i) Archiving data for later retrieval
j) Real time graphics & analysis

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES/ FEATURES

• Continuous culture – Provision of feeding substrate by peristaltic pump and harvest control based on level / weight of the media in the vessel.

• Boiler- A small electrically operated vertical type autoclave steam boiler can be supplied for the sterilization of tubes, needle, and other accessories.