Bioreactor with condenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10294447-B2
Application number	US-99427009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2009
Priority date	May 30, 2008
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

Bioreactor with a vessel having at least one gas dissipation duct for gas discharge, the orifice of the gas dissipation duct being connected to a hydrophobic sterile filter and to a condenser arranged between them and having condensation surfaces, a turbulence generator for generating a turbulent flow is arranged in the gas dissipation duct in the region of the condenser.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bioreactor ( 1 ) comprising: a vessel ( 2 ) with a flexible wall ( 7 ); a gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) joined to the flexible wall ( 7 ) and extending up from an upper part of the vessel ( 2 ) for gas discharge from the vessel ( 2 ), the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) having an orifice ( 8 ); a hydrophobic sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) connected to the orifice ( 8 ) of the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′); and a condenser ( 4 , 4 ′) arranged above the vessel ( 2 ) and between the vessel ( 2 ) and the hydrophobic sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) so that the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) passes through the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′), an outer wall ( 12 ) arranged at a distance out from the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) at the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′) and defining an interspace ( 17 ) between the outer wall ( 12 ) and the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′), connections ( 18 , 19 ) communicating with the interspace ( 17 ) for conducting coolant through the interspace ( 17 ), surfaces of the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) in the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′) being configured to define turbulence generation means ( 9 , 9 ′) for generating a turbulent flow and condensation in the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) inward of the interspace ( 17 ), wherein the surfaces of the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) that form the turbulence generation means are above the vessel ( 2 ) and communicate gravitationally with the vessel ( 2 ) via the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) so that condensate produced at the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′) flows gravitationally down through the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) to the vessel ( 2 ), and the vessel ( 2 ), the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′) and the sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) being integrally connected and produced from gamma-sterilizable plastic and wherein the vessel ( 2 ), the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′) and the sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) are components of a disposable apparatus.

2. The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the turbulence generation means ( 9 , 9 ′) is a condenser hose ( 20 ) or condenser tube that is arranged helically in the gas dissipation duct ( 3 , 3 ′) and through which a cooling liquid can be conducted.

3. The bioreactor of claim 2 , wherein the condenser hose ( 20 ) or the condenser tube is surrounded by further combined cooling and turbulence generation means.

4. The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the turbulence generation means ( 9 , 9 ′) comprises a packing ( 10 ).

5. The bioreactor of claim 4 , wherein the packing ( 10 ) is produced from a nonwoven material.

6. The bioreactor of claim 4 , wherein the packing ( 10 ) is produced from tubular segments made from glass, ceramic, plastic or metal.

7. The bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising a heating member ( 24 ) on an outer circumference of the hydrophobic sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′).

8. The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) is integrated into the condenser ( 4 , 4 ′).

9. The bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising lower and upper walls ( 13 , 14 ) connected to opposite upper and lower ends of the outer wall ( 12 ) and closing the interspace ( 17 ), the upper wall ( 14 ) being welded to the sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) so that the sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) is between the lower and upper walls ( 13 , 14 ) and inward of the outer wall ( 12 ), and with the turbulence generation means ( 9 , 9 ′) being between the sterile filter ( 5 , 5 ′) and the lower wall ( 13 ).

10. The bioreactor of claim 9 , wherein the turbulence generation means ( 9 , 9 ′) comprises a packing ( 10 ) inward of the inner wall ( 11 ).

Assignees

• Reif Oscar Werner
• Hellwig Gerid
• Van Den Boogaard Juergen
• Noack Ute
• Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Inventors

• Reif Oscar-Werner
• Hellwig Gerid
• Van Den Boogaard Juergen
• Noack Ute

Classifications

• C12M47/20

  Heating or cooling (heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00) · CPC title

• C12M47/18

  Gas cleaning, e.g. scrubbers; Separation of different gases (separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00; separation of gases or vapours B01D53/00; gas washing apparatus for laboratory uses B01L5/04) · CPC title

• C12M21/04 Primary

  for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10) · CPC title

• C12M23/36

  Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders · CPC title

• C12M23/28

  disposable or single use · CPC title