Methods and apparatus for gas stream mass transfer with a liquid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016298071-A1
Application number	US-201615187258-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 18, 2012
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween. A first opening is formed on the container so as to communicate with the compartment. A liquid is disposed within the compartment and having a top surface disposed below the first opening. A gas is blown through the first opening so that the gas passes over at least a portion of the top surface of the liquid, the gas producing turbulence on the top surface of the liquid that is sufficient to produce a mass transfer between the gas and the liquid. A mixing element is disposed within the compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer comprising:
a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween; a first opening formed on the container so as to communicate with the compartment; a liquid disposed within the compartment and having a top surface disposed below the first opening; a gas blowing through the first opening so that the gas passes over at least a portion of the top surface of the liquid, the gas producing turbulence on the top surface of the liquid that is sufficient to produce a mass transfer between the gas and the liquid; and means for mixing the liquid within the compartment.

2 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first opening is formed on the sidewall of the container.

3 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for mixing comprises a movable mixing element disposed within the compartment of the container and contacting the liquid.

4 . The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the mixing element comprises an impeller.

5 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag.

6 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas is flowing over the at least a portion of top surface of the liquid at a velocity of at least 40 m/sec.

7 . The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle secured to the first opening, the nozzle having an outlet through which the gas passes when entering the chamber.

8 . The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second opening formed on the sidewall of the container at an elevation higher than the first opening, the second opening being coupled with the gas source or a secondary gas source for delivering gas into the chamber of the container.

9 . The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a tube coupled to or extending through the first opening and projecting into the compartment of the container, the gas blowing through the tube and into the compartment.

10 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises a culture that includes cells or microorganisms and media.

11 . A system for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer comprising:
a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the container comprising a flexible bag having a sterile compartment configured to hold a fluid; a plurality of vertically spaced apart openings being formed on the sidewall of the container so as to communicate with the compartment; and a gas source coupled to each of the vertically spaced apart openings.

12 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the gas source is coupled to each of the vertically spaced apart openings so that the gas can be selectively blown through any desired one of the vertically spaced apart openings without blowing through the other of the openings.

13 . The system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a nozzle secured to the first opening, the nozzle having an outlet through which the gas passes when entering the chamber.

14 . The system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a mixing element movably disposed within the compartment of the container.

15 . A method for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer, the method comprising:
dispensing into a compartment of a container a first liquid volume, the container having an upper end wall, a lower end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the first liquid volume having an exposed first top surface disposed within the compartment at a first elevation, a head space being formed between the top surface of the first liquid volume and the top wall of the container; blowing a gas into the head space through a first outlet formed on the sidewall of the container so that the gas passes over at least a portion of the first top surface of the first liquid volume, the gas producing turbulence on the first top surface of the first liquid volume that is sufficient to produce a mass transfer between the gas and the first liquid volume; adding additional liquid to the first liquid volume within the container so as to form a second liquid volume having an exposed second top surface disposed within the compartment at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and blowing additional gas into a head space above the second top surface through a second outlet formed on the sidewall of the container, the second outlet being at an elevation higher than the first elevation, the additional gas passing over at least a portion of the second top surface of the second liquid volume.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the additional gas produces turbulence on the second top surface of the second liquid volume that is sufficient to produce a mass transfer between the gas and the second liquid volume.

17 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first liquid volume comprises a culture comprised of cells or microorganism and a media and the mass transfer facilitates oxygenation of the culture.

18 . The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising stopping the flow of gas through the first outlet before blowing the additional gas through the second outlet.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Brau Christopher D
• Jones Nephi D
• Madsen Benjamin R
• Goodwin Michael E

Classifications

• C12M27/00

  Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel (by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J) · CPC title

• C12M29/06 Primary

  Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26) · CPC title

• C12M29/14

  Pressurized fluid · CPC title

• C12M27/02

  Stirrer or mobile mixing elements · CPC title

• C12M41/34

  of gas · CPC title