METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE METERED ADDITION OF FLUIDS INTO REACTION VESSELS

• US 20130064738A1
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ReseaChem GmbH
• Original Assignee: Andreas Machler, Manfred Schar
• Inventors: Berger, Stefan, Mchler, Andreas, Schnetz, Christine, Schr, Manfred, Bircher, Fritz, Haslebacher, Philipp
• Application Number:
  US13/580,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20130064738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/521
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 10/002 carried out in foam, aerosol or bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0073 Sealings sealings for pressure vessels per se F16J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2204/002 the feeding side being of particular interest
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00011 Laboratory-scale plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00038 Processes in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00065 Pressure measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00096 Plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/002 inside the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0022 calculating difference
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00231 at the reactor inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/002 Nozzle-type elements nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/008 Feed or outlet control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/146 Employing pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0666 Solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Proposed is a metering device (87, 54) for introducing a fluid (31) into a reaction vessel such as, for example, a bioreactor (2). The metering device according to the disclosure comprises a closure element (89) for closing the reaction vessel, at least one drop generator (33) arranged in the closure element, and a feed line (91) serving for feeding the fluid to the at least one drop generator. The drop generator comprises a nozzle (36) for dispensing the fluid into the reaction vessel, and a valve (35). In the closed state, the valve disconnects the nozzle from the feed line. The drop generator is suitable for generating individual drops of the fluid.

Claims

1. A metering system for metering at least one fluid at a determined first metering rate from at least one reservoir into one or a plurality of reaction vessels, comprising:

at least one metering device;

means for determining a first pressure downstream of the metering device;

means for determining a second pressure upstream of the metering device;

a device for pressurization, wherein said device is suitable for pressurizing the fluid in the reservoir at the second pressure;

a control device, wherein the control device is suitable for setting at least one control value for the metering device on the basis of a differential pressure between the second pressure and the first pressure and the determined first metering rate; and

metering rate determination means, wherein said metering rate determination means are suitable for measuring a second metering rate, and the control device is suitable for readjusting the at least one control value on the basis of a difference between the first metering rate and the second metering rate.

2. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein the metering determination means preferably comprise weighing means, particularly preferred a precision scale.

3. The metering system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one weighing means is suitable for measuring the second measured metering rate by determining a mass difference of the fluid in the reservoir within a certain measuring interval.

4. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein the metering rate determination means comprises a flow sensor, wherein the flow sensor is arranged in a transfer line between the at least one reservoir and the metering device and is suitable for determining the second measured metering rate.

5. The metering system according to claim 4, wherein the flow sensor is a single use flow sensor.

6. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining a second pressure comprises a pressure sensor.

7. The metering system according to claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated in the metering device.

8. The metering system according to claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a bypass.

9. The metering system according to claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor has a first flow cross-section and the bypass has a second flow cross-section, wherein the flow cross-section of the bypass is larger than the flow cross-section of the pressure sensor.

10. The metering system according to claim 1, wherein a device for taking samples from the reaction vessel is provided.

11. A method for metering a fluid at a determined first metering rate from a reservoir into a reaction vessel with a metering device which is suitable for generating individual drops of the fluid, comprising the steps of:

detecting upstream of the metering device a second pressure;

detecting downstream of the metering device a first pressure;

forming a differential pressure from the difference between the second pressure and the first pressure;

determining at least one control value for the metering device from the differential pressure and the determined first metering rate,

wherein the at least one control value comprises the opening period and/or the frequency of the metering device, and a second metering rate (DR2) is measured by metering rate determination means (135, 136); and

based on a difference between the first determined metering rate and the second measured metering rate, the at least one control value (SW) is readjusted.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a control device controls the opening period and/or the frequency of the metering device in such a manner that the second measured metering rate corresponds to the first determined metering rate.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the metering rate determination means comprise at least one weighing means, wherein the at least one weighing means is arranged below or above one or a plurality of reservoirs and determines a weight value of the fluid in the reservoir, wherein the change of the weight value within a certain measuring interval corresponds to the second measured metering rate.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the metering rate determination means comprise at least one flow sensor, wherein the flow sensor determines the second measured metering rate.

15. The method according to claim 11, employing a metering system for metering at least one fluid at a determined first metering rate from at least one reservoir into one or a plurality of reaction vessels, comprising:

at least one metering device;

means for determining a first pressure downstream of the metering device;

means for determining a second pressure upstream of the metering device;

a device for pressurization, wherein said device is suitable for pressurizing the fluid in the reservoir at the second pressure;

a control device, wherein the control device is suitable for setting at least one control value for the metering device on the basis of a differential pressure between the second pressure and the first pressure and the determined first metering rate; and

metering rate determination means, wherein said metering rate determination means are suitable for measuring a second metering rate, and the control device is suitable for readjusting the at least one control value on the basis of a difference between the first metering rate and the second metering rate.