Flexible bioreactor and support structure method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289631-A1
Application number	US-201615143048-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include a method. The method includes: providing a support structure; and providing a bioreactor operable to vitally support one or more microorganisms. The bioreactor includes a bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more microorganisms and a fluidic support medium and one or more bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the bioreactor cavity. The bioreactor wall(s) have at least one bioreactor wall material that is flexible. The support structure is operable to mechanically support the bioreactor. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
providing a support structure; and providing a bioreactor operable to vitally support one or more microorganisms; wherein:
the bioreactor comprises:
a bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more microorganisms and a fluidic support medium; and
one or more bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the bioreactor cavity, the one or more bioreactor walls comprising at least one bioreactor wall material and the at least one bioreactor wall material being flexible;

the support structure is operable to mechanically support the bioreactor;
providing the support structure comprises:
providing a first frame;
providing a second frame; and
configuring the first frame and the second frame such that the first frame and the second frame together are operable to mechanically support the bioreactor in interposition between the first frame and the second frame;

and
the first frame is further operable to maintain a set point temperature of the bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the first frame and the bioreactor when the bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the bioreactor.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
interposing the bioreactor between the first frame and the second frame.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the second frame is further operable to maintain the set point temperature of the bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the second frame and the bioreactor when the bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the bioreactor.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
providing the first frame comprises:
providing two or more first frame rails;

each first frame rail of the two or more first frame rails comprises a first frame rail conduit;
each first frame rail conduit of the two or more first frame rail conduits is configured to convey a first temperature maintenance fluid to exchange first thermal energy between the bioreactor and the temperature maintenance fluid in order to maintain the set point temperature of the bioreactor when the bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more microorganisms; and
the two or more first frame rails are operable to mechanically support the bioreactor.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising:
providing the first temperature maintenance fluid to the first frame rail conduit of the two or more first frame rails.

6 . The method of claim 4 wherein:
providing the second frame comprises:
providing two or more second frame rails;

each second frame rail of the two or more second frame rails comprises a second frame rail conduit;
each second frame rail conduit of the two or more second frame rail conduits is configured to convey a second temperature maintenance fluid to exchange second thermal energy between the bioreactor and the temperature maintenance fluid in order to maintain the set point temperature of the bioreactor when the bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more microorganisms; and
the two or more second frame rails are operable to mechanically support the bioreactor.

7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:
providing the second temperature maintenance fluid to the second frame rail conduit of the two or more second frame rails.

8 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:
the first temperature maintenance fluid comprises the second temperature maintenance fluid.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the bioreactor further comprises:
one or more bioreactor fittings in communication with the bioreactor cavity, the one or more bioreactor fittings comprising at least one gas delivery fitting;
one or more gas delivery devices located within the bioreactor cavity, the one or more gas delivery devices being operable to inject gas into the bioreactor cavity to mix the one or more microorganisms; and
one or more flexible tubes located within the bioreactor cavity, the one or more flexible tubes comprising at least one gas delivery tube coupling the one or more gas delivery devices to the at least one gas delivery fitting.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of:
the bioreactor further comprises a parameter sensing device;
the one or more bioreactor fittings further comprise a filter;
the bioreactor further comprises a pressure regulator; or
the one or more bioreactor fittings further comprise an organic carbon material delivery fitting.

11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing between the first frame and the second frame an open bag comprising one or more bag walls, the one or more bag walls comprising at least one bag wall material and the at least one bag wall material being flexible;
interposing the bioreactor within the open bag and between the first frame and the second frame; and
filling with water a gap formed between an exterior of the one or more bioreactor walls and an interior of the one or more bag walls.

12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
maintaining the bioreactor in substantially axenic conditions while the bioreactor is operating to vitally support the one or more microorganisms.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more microorganisms comprise at least one of microalgae or cyanobacteria.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more microorganisms comprise at least one of one or more phototrophic microorganisms, one or more mixotrophic microorganisms, or one or more heterotrophic microorganisms.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more microorganisms comprise one or more microalgae; and
the one or more microalgae are taxonomically classified in at least one of taxonomic family Chlorellaceae, taxonomic family Haematococcaceae, taxonomic family Scenedesmaceae, taxonomic family Porphyridiaceae, or taxonomic family Chlamydomonadaceae.

16 . A method comprising:
providing a support structure; providing a bioreactor operable to vitally support one or more microorganisms; and interposing the bioreactor between the first frame and the second frame; wherein:
the bioreactor comprises:
a bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more microorganisms and a fluidic support medium; and
one or more bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the bioreactor cavity, the one or more bioreactor walls comprising at least one bioreactor wall material and the at least one bioreactor wall material being flexible;

the support structure is operable to mechanically support the bioreactor;
providing the support structure comprises:
providing a first frame;
providing a second frame; and
configuring the first frame and the second frame such that the first frame and the second frame together are operable to mechanically support the bioreactor in interposition between the first frame and the second frame;

the first frame is further operable to maintain a set point temperature of the bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the first frame and the bioreactor when the bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the bioreactor;
and
the second frame is further operable to maintain the set point temperature of the bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the second frame and the bioreactor when the bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms and whe

Assignees

• Heliae Dev Llc

Inventors

• Mazur Richard
• Cizek Luke
• Oelschlager Mason
• Tram Minh Duc
• Mccarty Mason
• Bair Candyce

Classifications

• C12M41/36

  of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404) · CPC title

• C12M21/02

  Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12) · CPC title

• C12M41/22

  in contact with the bioreactor walls · CPC title

• C12M37/00

  Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination (C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00) · CPC title

• C12M23/14

  Bags · CPC title