Heat exchanger system with flexible bag

• US 9,284,524 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Staheli, Clinton C., Jones, Nephi D., Goodwin, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ketter, Jim
• Application Number:
  US14/088,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20140178983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 47/05 by condensation of the separating agent
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0072 with filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2035/98 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/44 Mixing of ingredients for microbiology, enzymology, in vitro culture or genetic manipulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231151 the bubbling devices being fixed or anchored in the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2312 Diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23125 characterised by the way in which they are assembled or mounted; Fabricating the parts of the diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231262 having disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/233 using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23362 the gas being introduced under the stirrer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23761 Aerating, i.e. introducing oxygen containing gas in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237611 Air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237612 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23762 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23765 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/2121 composed of interconnected parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/88 with a separate receptacle-stirrer unit that is adapted to be coupled to a drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/90 with paddles or arms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/91 with propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/146 Working under sterile conditions; Sterilizing the mixer or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/51 : characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/513 : Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/92 : for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners
• 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 23/34 : Internal compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/02 : Stirrer or mobile mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 : Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 : Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/24 : Recirculation of gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 37/00 : 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 Class Codes: C12M 41/14 : Incubators; Climatic chambers per se B01L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/18 : Heat exchange systems, e.g. heat jackets or outer envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/10 : Protozoa; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 : Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 : Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 : Bacteria; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/00 : Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor; plant reproduction by tissue culture techniques A01H4/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/04 : Plant cells or tissues culture media C12N5/0025
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/10 : Cells modified by introduction of foreign genetic material
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 1/02 : using water or other liquid as the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0063 : Condensers steam or vapour condensers F28B
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/06 : of plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/065 : the heat-exchange apparatus employing plate-like or laminated conduits
• 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

Abstract

A heat exchanger system includes a heat exchanger having a body plate with a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body plate bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, and a first side plate having an inside face. A flexible first bag includes of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first bag being removably retained between the body plate and the first side plate so that at least a portion of the first bag rests against the first side face of the body plate when the fluid pathway of the first bag is filled with a fluid.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger system comprising:

a heat exchanger comprising;

a body plate having a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body plate bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a first side plate having an inside face; and

a flexible first bag comprised of one or more sheet of polymeric material, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first bag being removably retained between the body plate and the first side plate so that at least a portion of the first bag rests against the first side face of the body plate when the fluid pathway of the first bag is filled with a fluid, the fluid channel of the body plate being sealed from fluid communication with the fluid pathway of the first bag.

2. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the heat exchanger comprising a second side plate having an inside face; and

a flexible second bag comprised of one or more sheet of polymeric material, the second bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the second bag being removably retained between the body plate and the second side plate so that at least a portion of the second bag rests against the second side face of the body plate when the fluid pathway of the second bag is filled with a fluid.

3. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first bag is coupled with the second bag.

4. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel in the body plate extends in a serpentine contour.

5. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway in the first bag extends in a serpentine contour.

6. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body plate bounding the fluid channel is comprised of a metal such that when a fluid passes through the fluid channel, a heat transfer is achieved between the fluid within the fluid channel and the body plate.

7. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein the body plate and the first side plate are hingedly coupled together so that the body plate and the first side plate can be moved between an open position where the first bag can be freely removed from between the body plate and the first side plate and a closed position wherein the first bag is captured between the body plate and the first side plate.

8. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a fastener that secures the body plate and the first side plate together when they are in the closed position.

9. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

openings formed on the first bag; and

catches formed on and projecting from the body plate, the catches being removably received within the opening for securing the first bag to the body plate.

10. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fluid source coupled with the inlet and the outlet of the fluid channel of the body plate, the fluid source being configured to pump fluid through the fluid channel and to regulate the temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid channel.

11. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed on a cart having wheels.

12. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a vent hole formed on the body plate and communicating with the fluid channel; and

a plug removably secured to the body plate so as to close the vent hole.

23. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first side plate is movably coupled to the body plate.

13. A system for mixing a liquid solution or suspension comprising:

a container bounding a chamber and having an upper end and an opposing lower end, the chamber being adapted to hold a fluid;

a heat exchanger comprising;

a body plate having a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body plate bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port; and

a first side plate having an inside face;

a fluid source coupled with the inlet port and the outlet port of the fluid channel of the body plate, the fluid source being configured to pump fluid through the fluid channel and to regulate the temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid channel;

a flexible first bag comprised of one or more sheet of polymeric material, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first bag being removably retained between the body plate and the first side plate of the heat exchanger, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the first bag each being fluid coupled with the container.

14. The system for mixing as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a support housing bounding a compartment;

the container comprising a flexible bag, the flexible bag being disposed within the compartment of the support housing.

15. The system for mixing as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

the heat exchanger comprising a second side plate having an inside face; and

a flexible second bag comprised of one or more sheet of polymeric material, the second bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the second bag being removably retained between the body plate and the second side plate so that at least a portion of the second bag rests against the second side face of the body plate when the fluid pathway of the second bag is filled with a fluid.

16. The system for mixing as recited in claim 15, wherein the body plate, the first side plate, and the second side plate are all hingedly coupled together.

17. The system for mixing as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for mixing fluid within the container.

18. The system for mixing as recited in claim 13, further comprising a pump that pumps fluid from the flexible first bag to the container.

19. The system for mixing as recited in claim 13, wherein the fluid source comprises a chiller.

20. The system for mixing as recited in claim 13, further comprising a fluid disposed within the chamber of the container, the fluid comprising a media or a culture of cells or microorganisms.

21. A method for using a heat exchanger, the method comprising:

placing a first bag between a body plate and a first side plate of a heat exchanger, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet that are both coupled to a container;

passing a fluid that comprises at least some liquid from the container, through the fluid pathway of the first bag and then back into the container, the first bag resting against the first body plate as the fluid is passing therethrough; and

pumping a liquid through a fluid channel disposed within the body plate of the heat exchanger so that there is a heat transfer between the liquid passing through the body plate and the fluid passing through the first bag.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein liquid passing through the body plate cools the fluid passing through the first bag.