TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING SURFACES AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES

• US 20130089925A1
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xcellerex, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: CROWELL, JOSEPH D., TUOHEY, COLIN R., MITCHELL, PETER A., DAMREN, RICHARD L., GALLIHER, PARRISH M., CLAPP, KENNETH P., ERDENBERGER, THOMAS
• Granted Patent: US 9,340,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/303.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/513 Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/006 Baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/18 Stationary reactors having moving elements inside B01J19/08, B01J19/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/24 Stationary reactors without moving elements inside B01J19/08, B01J19/26 take precedence; with stationary particles B01J8/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0002 Plants assembled from modules joined together
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00081 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00085 Plates; Jackets; Cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0009 Coils
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00094 Jackets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00765 Baffles attached to the reactor wall
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00768 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/24 Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/02 with laminated walls
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/26 flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/28 disposable or single use
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/20 Baffles; Ribs; Ribbons; Auger vanes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/18 Heat exchange systems, e.g. heat jackets or outer envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/24 inside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/04 made of rubber or flexible plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0213 : for heating or cooling a liquid in a tank
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/047 : the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/06 : with the heat-exchange conduits forming part of, or being attached to, the tank containing the body of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0022 : for chemical reactors
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0077 : for tempering, e.g. with cooling or heating circuits for temperature control of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0078 : in the form of cooling walls
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/024 : the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled tubes, the coils having a cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/026 : the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled and formed by bent members, e.g. plates, the coils having a cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/06 : by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2009/228 : Oblique partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/006 : Heat conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2255/02 : Flexible elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 : Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0131 : formed by plates F28F9/0138 takes precedence

Abstract

A heat exchange module for use in a chemical, pharmaceutical or biological reactor system can include a body configured to be disposed in the reactor system having an inner replaceable reactant container is disclosed. The body can further include at least one thermally conductive surface adapted to contact the inner replaceable reactant container to facilitate heat transfer. Furthermore, the heat exchange module can include a heat exchanger disposed within the module body and can include a fluid circulation path through which a heat exchange fluid can be circulated.

Claims

1. A heat exchange module for use in a chemical, pharmaceutical or biological reactor system, comprising:

a body configured to be disposed in a reactor vessel comprising a support structure, the reactor vessel having an inner replaceable or single use reactant container, the body comprising at least one surface configured to conform to a shape of the reactor vessel and at least one thermally conductive surface adapted to contact the inner replaceable container to facilitate heat transfer, and

a heat exchanger disposed within the module body comprising a fluid circulation path through which a heat exchange fluid can be circulated.

2. The heat exchange module of claim 1 wherein the body is an elongate body having a top end and a bottom end and is adapted to be inserted into the reactor vessel such that the body extends at least a substantial portion of the distance between a top and a bottom of the reactor vessel.

3. The heat exchange module of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a coupler for attaching the module to the reactor vessel.

4. The heat exchange module of claim 3 wherein the coupler is a bracket or hook for attaching the module to a top portion of the reactor vessel.

5. The heat exchange module of claim 2 wherein the fluid circulation path comprises:

an elongate tube axially positioned within the body and extending substantially the length of the body, the elongate tube configured for delivering the heat exchange fluid through the elongate tube to an opening at the bottom of the elongate tube; and

a flow path of the heat exchange fluid from the opening at the bottom of the elongate tube to an outlet or an outlet tube at the top end of the body.

6. The heat exchange module of claim 2 wherein the body is configured to extend to a position opposite an impeller positioned at or near the bottom of the inner replaceable container, the body configured as a baffle to baffle a shear field produced by the impeller.

7. A heat exchange module for use in a chemical, pharmaceutical or biological reactor system, comprising:

a body configured to be disposed in a reactor vessel comprising a support structure and having an inner replaceable or single use reactant container, the body further comprising at least one thermally conductive surface adapted to contact the inner replaceable reactant container to facilitate heat transfer, and

a heat exchanger disposed within the module body comprising a fluid circulation path through which a heat exchange fluid can be circulated.

8. The heat exchange module of claim 7, wherein the heat exchange module is integrally formed as a part of the reactor vessel and further comprises at least one baffle that provides the thermally conductive surface adapted to contact the inner replaceable reactant container and facilitate heat transfer.

9. The heat exchange module of claim 7, wherein the heat exchange module is integrally formed as part of the reactor vessel and the fluid circulation path further comprises at least one non-linear channel disposed within a wall of the reactor vessel.

10. The heat exchange module of claim 7 wherein the non-linear channel further comprises at least one of spiral, serpentine and maze-like pathways configured to maintain the thermally conductive surface at a desired temperature.

11. The heat exchange module of claim 10 wherein the module further comprises an opening configured for alignment with a window in the outer support structure to facilitate viewing of the inner replaceable reactant container.

12. The heat exchange module of claim 7 wherein the module further comprises a liner configured for disposition between at least a portion of the reactor vessel and at least a portion of the inner replaceable reactant container.

13. The heat exchange module of claim 12 wherein the liner further comprises a segmented jacket comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a wall structure defining a non-linear inner fluid flow channel between the inlet and outlet.

14. The heat exchange module of claim 13 wherein the liner further comprises a polymeric material with a corrugated wall structure of interconnected segments that define the non-linear inner fluid flow channel between the inlet and outlet.

15. The heat exchange module of claim 13 wherein the segments are oriented horizontally, vertically or helically.

16. The heat exchange module of claim 13 wherein the jacket is configured to substantially surround a sidewall of the inner replaceable reactant container.

17. The heat exchange module of claim 16 wherein the jacket further comprises at least one opening configured for alignment with a window in the outer support structure to facilitate viewing of the inner container.

18. The heat exchange module of claim 16 wherein the jacket further comprises a thermally conductive material.

19. The heat exchange module of claim 18 wherein the thermally-conductive material further comprises a layer of thermally conductive material or a plurality of thermally-conductive particles disposed on or embedded in a surface of the module.

20. The heat exchange module of claim 16 wherein the jacket further comprises a plurality of inner protrusions configured to engage the inner replaceable reactant container.

21. A flexible bioreactor or mixer bag comprising at least one double wall portion comprising serpentine fluid flow channels within the double wall portion.

22. A container chosen from a flexible bioreactor bag, a flexible mixer bag, and a flexible tubing, the container comprising at least one double wall portion comprising an inner and an outer wall and a heat conductive material attached to a portion of at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall.

23. A flexible polymeric wall chosen from a bioreactor wall, a mixer wall, and a tubing wall, the flexible wall comprising a heat conductive material attached to a portion of the flexible wall.

24. A jacketed, tiered baffle, bioreactor tank comprising:

an outer cylindrical-shaped jacket; and

a cylindrical tank having an inner tank surface defining a chamber configured for supporting a flexible bag disposed within the chamber, and an outer tank surface having tiered baffles configured for routing a liquid coolant around the entirety of the outer tank surface, the cylindrical tank disposed axially within the outer cylindrical-shaped jacket,

wherein the outer cylindrical-shaped jacket is sealed to the cylindrical tank in a manner sufficient to prevent or minimize loss of the liquid coolant.

25. The jacketed, tiered baffle, bioreactor tank of claim 24 wherein at least one of the outer cylindrical-shaped jacket and the cylindrical tank comprises a heat conductive material.

26. The jacketed, tiered baffle, bioreactor tank of claim 25, wherein the heat conductive material comprises a metal.