Apparatus and method for continuous depyrogenation and production of sterile water for injection
First Claim
1. A fluid processor comprising:
- a pump for drawing a fluid from a fluid source through a fluid inlet and pressurizing the fluid;
a processor assembly for processing the fluid from the pump, the processor assembly comprising;
a heat exchanger for recovering thermal energy;
a reactor for processing a fluid by heating;
and a heater for heating the reactor;
a process control system comprising;
a flow splitter disposed between the pump and the processor assembly for diverting a portion of the fluid from the pump, a first flow restrictor for receiving the diverted fluid and directing the diverted fluid to the fluid inlet, a pressure relief valve disposed between the first flow restrictor and the flow splitter, and a second flow restrictor disposed downstream of the processor assembly, wherein the flow splitter, first flow restrictor, second flow restrictor and pressure relief valve are constructed and arranged to coact with each other to control the pressure and flow rate of the fluid in the fluid processor;
a sanitization assembly comprising;
an isolation valve disposed immediately downstream of the fluid inleta drain valve disposed at the lowest point of the fluid processor and between the pump and the processor assembly; and
a startup loop assembly comprising;
a first fluid path running from the isolation valve to the reactor;
a second fluid path running from the isolation valve to the pump;
a startup flow restrictor disposed immediately downstream of the isolation valve and positioned along the first fluid path; and
a four-way valve disposed immediately downstream of the startup flow restrictor and the pump, the four-way valve-havinga first connection for receiving fluid from the startup flow restrictor,a second connection for directing fluid from the startup flow restrictor to the reactor,a third connection for receiving fluid from the pump, anda fourth connection for directing the fluid from the pump to the heat exchanger, and further,wherein the four-way valve has a startup position for directing fluid from the startup flow restrictor to the reactor through the first and second connection and a normal position for directing the fluid from the pump to the heat exchanger through the third and fourth connection.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid processor, suitable for the production of sterile water for injection, having a processor assembly and a process control system comprising a pump, a flow splitter, flow restrictors and a pressure relief valve. In a preferred embodiment, the processor assembly comprises a heat exchanger, a reactor and a heater arranged in a nested configuration. The preferred embodiment of the present invention also include a treatment assembly having a combination of filter, reverse osmosis and ion exchange devices and further incorporates an assembly and method allowing for the in situ sanitization of the fluid processor during cold start and shutdown to prevent bacteria growth during storage of the fluid processor. The fluid processor may include an electronic control system comprising a touch screen operator interface, a programmable logic controller and sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, flow rate, conductivity and endotoxin level.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A fluid processor comprising:
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a pump for drawing a fluid from a fluid source through a fluid inlet and pressurizing the fluid; a processor assembly for processing the fluid from the pump, the processor assembly comprising; a heat exchanger for recovering thermal energy; a reactor for processing a fluid by heating; and a heater for heating the reactor; a process control system comprising;
a flow splitter disposed between the pump and the processor assembly for diverting a portion of the fluid from the pump, a first flow restrictor for receiving the diverted fluid and directing the diverted fluid to the fluid inlet, a pressure relief valve disposed between the first flow restrictor and the flow splitter, and a second flow restrictor disposed downstream of the processor assembly, wherein the flow splitter, first flow restrictor, second flow restrictor and pressure relief valve are constructed and arranged to coact with each other to control the pressure and flow rate of the fluid in the fluid processor;a sanitization assembly comprising; an isolation valve disposed immediately downstream of the fluid inlet a drain valve disposed at the lowest point of the fluid processor and between the pump and the processor assembly; and a startup loop assembly comprising; a first fluid path running from the isolation valve to the reactor; a second fluid path running from the isolation valve to the pump; a startup flow restrictor disposed immediately downstream of the isolation valve and positioned along the first fluid path; and a four-way valve disposed immediately downstream of the startup flow restrictor and the pump, the four-way valve-having a first connection for receiving fluid from the startup flow restrictor, a second connection for directing fluid from the startup flow restrictor to the reactor, a third connection for receiving fluid from the pump, and a fourth connection for directing the fluid from the pump to the heat exchanger, and further, wherein the four-way valve has a startup position for directing fluid from the startup flow restrictor to the reactor through the first and second connection and a normal position for directing the fluid from the pump to the heat exchanger through the third and fourth connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fluid processor comprising:
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a pump for drawing a fluid from a fluid source through a fluid inlet and pressurizing the fluid; a processor assembly comprising a fluid heater for heating the fluid from the pump; a process control system comprising;
a flow splitter disposed between the pump and the processor assembly for diverting a portion of the fluid from the pump, a first flow restrictor for receiving the diverted fluid and directing the diverted fluid to the fluid inlet, a first pressure relief valve disposed between the first flow restrictor and the flow splitter, a second pressure relief valve disposed between an upstream side of the processor assembly and a downstream side of the flow splitter and a second flow restrictor disposed downstream of the processor assembly,wherein the flow splitter, flaw restrictors and pressure relief valves are constructed and arranged to coact with each other to control the pressure and flow rate of the fluid in the fluid processor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification