Heat exchanger system with flexible bag

• US 9,528,083 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• 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:
  US15/017,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20160152939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 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 23/23125 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 with a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port. A flexible first bag has of one or more sheet of polymeric material and bounds a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The first bag is removably retained against the first side face of the body of the heat exchanger, the fluid channel of the body of the heat exchanger being sealed from fluid communication with the fluid pathway of the first bag.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger system comprising:

a heat exchanger comprising a body having a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port; 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 against the first side face of the body of the heat exchanger, the fluid channel of the body of the heat exchanger 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 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 against the second side face of the body of the heat exchanger.

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 pathway in the first bag extends in a serpentine contour.

5. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body 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.

6. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a first side plate that pushes the first bag against the first side face of the body of the heat exchanger.

7. The heat exchanger system as recited in claim 6, wherein the first side plate is movably coupled to the body so that the first side plate can be moved between an open position where the first bag can be freely removed from between the body and the first side plate and a closed position wherein the first bag is captured between the body and the first side plate.

8. 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, the catches being removably received within the opening for securing the first bag to the body.

9. 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, 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.

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

a fluid source coupled with the inlet port and the outlet port of the fluid channel of the body of the heat exchanger, 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 against the first side face of the body of the heat exchanger, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the first bag each being fluid coupled with the container.

11. The system for mixing as recited in claim 10, 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.

12. The system for mixing as recited in claim 10, further comprising 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 against the second side face of the body of the heat exchanger.

13. The system for mixing as recited in claim 10, further comprising means for mixing fluid within the container.

14. The system for mixing as recited in claim 10, further comprising a pump that pumps fluid from the flexible first bag to the container.

15. The system for mixing as recited in claim 10, further comprising a liquid disposed within the chamber of the container, the liquid comprising a culture of cells or microorganisms.

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

placing a first bag against a first side face of a body of a heat exchanger, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

passing a fluid that comprises at least some liquid through the fluid pathway of the first bag while the first bag is disposed against the first side face of the body; and

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

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein liquid passing through the body cools the fluid passing through the first bag.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising securing the first bag to the body of the heat exchanger so that the first bag is pushed against the first side face of the body while the fluid is passing through the fluid pathway.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising placing a second bag against a second side face of the body of the heat exchanger, the second bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the first bag is connected to the second bag.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the fluid is passed from a container, through the fluid pathway of the first bag and then at least a portion of the fluid is passed back into the container.