The present invention relates to a process for production of fermentation products, including bioethanol by non-pressurized pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of waste fractions containing mono- and/or polysaccharides, having a relatively high dry matter content. The process in its entirety, i.e. from non-pressurized pre-treatment over enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to sorting of fermentable and non-fermentable solids can be processed at a relatively high dry matter content in a single vessel or similar device using free fall mixing for the mechanical processing of the waste fraction.

A fluid mixing system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing, the flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An impeller is disposed within the chamber of the flexible bag. A drive shaft is coupled with the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller. A drive motor assembly is coupled with the draft shaft and is adapted to rotate the drive shaft. An adjustable arm assembly is coupled with the drive motor assembly and is adapted to move the drive motor assembly which in turn moves the position of the drive shaft and impeller. An electrical controller can control movement of the adjustable arm.

A fermentation tank includes a tank body, enclosing a cavity therein, having a material inlet and a material outlet; a heat exchange structure, disposed on a wall of the cavity for heat exchanging with the tank body; at least one flow disturbing plate, being an elongated plate, the width direction of the flow disturbing plate being parallel to a radial direction of the tank body, the longitudinal direction of the flow disturbing plate being parallel to a vertical direction, a length of the flow disturbing plate being larger than a width thereof, the flow disturbing plate being arranged in the cavity and connected to the tank body, the flow disturbing plate having a heat exchange channel therein, two ends of the heat exchange channel communicating an exterior respectively so that heat is exchanged between the at least one flow disturbing plate and the cavity.

A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.

A fluid mixing system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing, the flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An impeller is disposed within the chamber of the flexible bag. A drive shaft is coupled with the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller. A drive motor assembly is coupled with the draft shaft and is adapted to rotate the drive shaft. An adjustable arm assembly is coupled with the drive motor assembly and is adapted to move the drive motor assembly which in turn moves the position of the drive shaft and impeller. An electrical controller can control movement of the adjustable arm.

A device for non intrusive agitation of a fluid is provided, including a container adapted to contain the fluid, at least one of the walls thereof includes a membrane and a main movable stirring means inside the container adapted to stir at least the fluid. The first flexible element is adapted to interfere mechanically with an external movable impulsion means, thus creating a deformation which has a mechanical interference with the main movable stirring means. This movement of such impulsion means is transmitted to the main movable stirring means by the interposition of the first flexible element.

A stirring device of a plug-flow fermentation device includes a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation which defines an axial direction. The stirring device further includes a boundary stirring element that defines the axial extent of a stirring volume covered by the stirring device. A nearest neighbor of the boundary stirring element in the axial direction has an axial maximum width which is smaller than an axial maximum width of the boundary stirring element and which is larger than an axial maximum width of a next-nearest neighbor of the boundary stirring element.

A device that produces a sugar solution from cellulose-containing biomass includes: a horizontal reaction tank that includes a stirring shaft provided along a horizontal direction in the horizontal reaction tank and a stirring blade provided to the stirring shaft, the horizontal reaction tank being configured to obtain a saccharified slurry by reacting the cellulose-containing biomass with a saccharification enzyme by stirring the cellulose-containing biomass and the saccharification enzyme; a vertical reaction tank configured to obtain a saccharified liquid by saccharifying the saccharified slurry; a saccharified slurry feed line that connects the horizontal reaction tank and the vertical reaction tank; and a warming part provided around the horizontal reaction tank or on a wall surface of the horizontal reaction tank and heats the horizontal reaction tank.

The present set of embodiments relate to a bioproduction system, method, and apparatus for mixing a fluid. The bioproduction mixing system includes an offset helical assembly having a stabilizer and impeller for mixing a fluid within a flexible compartment The bioproduction mixing system is designed for efficient mixing of the fluid and for use with a variety of different impellers that can be located at different locations according to the volume and shape characteristics of the flexible compartment. The bioproduction mixing system is optimized to eliminate stagnation zones while maximizing bulk fluid flow.

The present set of embodiments relate a system, method, and various devices for installation of a bioproduction system. The bioproduction system includes a rigid housing having a moveable platform to assist in the installation of a bioprocessing container within. The system also includes mounting systems for a variety of peripherals originating from the flexible container while safeguarding operators. More specifically, the system includes systems and methods for mounting bearings, organizing tube sets, and placement of the flexible container in its proper orientation.