Heat exchanger system with flexible bag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10711233-B2
Application number	US-201615374689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Feb 22, 2010
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

A bag assembly for use with a heat exchanger includes a flexible bag having of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the bag having a first end that bounds a first compartment and an opposing second end that bounds a second compartment, a support structure being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment is separated and isolated from the second compartment. A first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the first compartment. A second inlet port, a second outlet port, and a second drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the second compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bag assembly for use with a heat exchanger, the bag assembly comprising:
a flexible bag comprised of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the bag having a first end that bounds a first compartment and an opposing second end that bounds a second compartment, a support structure being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment is separated and isolated from the second compartment, wherein the one or more sheets of polymeric material comprise a first sheet of polymeric film overlaying and secured to a second sheet of polymeric film so that the first compartment and the second compartment are bounded between the first sheet and the second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet each comprise a single, integral, continuous sheet that extends from the first end to the second end;
a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first drain port being coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the first compartment; and
a second inlet port, a second outlet port, and a second drain port being coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the second compartment;
wherein the first compartment is bounded by an upper edge disposed toward the support structure and an opposing lower edge, the lower edge comprising a portion of the first sheet and the second sheet where the first sheet and the second sheet are directly secured together, opposing ends of the lower edge being sloped toward a central location, the first drain port being disposed at the central location.

2. The bag assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first end, the second end and the support structure are each comprised of the first sheet and the second sheet.

3. The bag assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first drain port passing through the lower edge.

4. The bag assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the lower edge has a V-shaped configuration that slopes toward the central location.

5. The bag assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first port and the second port are disposed toward the upper edge.

6. The bag assembly as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a first partition projecting into the first compartment between the first port and the second port so that gas traveling between the first port and the second port must travel around the first partition.

7. The bag assembly as recited in claim 6 , further comprising a second partition projecting into the first compartment, the second partition being separated from the first partition.

8. The bag assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first compartment comprises a fluid path extending between the first port and the second port, the fluid path having a sinusoidal or serpentine configuration.

9. The bag assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a sterilizing filter that can remove contaminates down to 0.2 microns being coupled to the first outlet port.

10. The bag assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein a portion the lower edge is angled toward the first drain port.

11. A heat exchanger system comprising:
a heat exchanger comprising a body having a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port; and
a flexible bag comprised of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the bag having a first end that bounds a first compartment and an opposing second end that bounds a second compartment, a support structure being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment is separated and isolated from the second compartment, the flexible bag being disposed on the heat exchanger so that the first end is disposed against the first side face of the body and the second end is disposed against the second side face of the body.

12. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a first side plate, the first end of the flexible bag being captured between the first side plate and the first side face of the body of the heat exchanger.

13. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first side plate is hingedly coupled to the body so that the first side plate can be moved between an open position where the first end can be freely removed from between the body and the first side plate and a closed position wherein the first end is captured between the body and the first side plate.

14. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:
openings formed on the flexible bag; and
catches formed on and projecting from the body, the catches being removably received within the opening for securing the flexible bag to the body.

15. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first side face of the body has a thermal conduction portion and an insulated portion, the insulated portion having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermal conduction portion.

16. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a tensioning bar mounted on the body so as to be resiliently movable, the support structure of the flexible bag being disposed on the tensioning bar.

17. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first side face of the body and the second side face of the body are disposed in substantially parallel alignment.

18. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first side face and the second side face of the body are comprised of metal.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Staheli Clinton C
• Jones Nephi D
• Goodwin Michael E

Classifications

• B01F23/23765

  Nitrogen · CPC title

• B01F35/51

  characterised by their material · CPC title

• B01F23/23761

  Aerating, i.e. introducing oxygen containing gas in liquids · CPC title

• B01F23/231151

  the bubbling devices being fixed or anchored in the bottom · CPC title

• B01F35/92

  for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners · CPC title