A smart solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of solid-liquid separation equipment, specifically an intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications. The device includes a body, a top cover, a centrifuge chamber, a rotating drum, and a motor. The top cover is located on the upper side of the body, the centrifuge chamber is located inside the body, and the motor output end has a rotating shaft. The rotating drum is located inside the centrifuge chamber and rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. The device also includes a sterilization mechanism, which comprises a steam generator and a control component connected to the output end of the steam generator. The control component is located inside the rotating shaft. The rotating drum can be pressed against or disengaged from the control component, thereby controlling the connection or disconnection of the sterilization mechanism from the centrifuge chamber. Depending on whether the drum body and drum cover are installed, three different conditions are automatically determined for high-pressure steam sterilization, thus enabling differentiated cleaning of the centrifuge chamber components, reducing manpower costs, and providing greater flexibility in use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of solid-liquid separation equipment, specifically to an intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications. Background Technology

[0002] In the biopharmaceutical industry, centrifuges play a crucial role as an indispensable piece of equipment. In biopharmaceuticals, it is often necessary to remove unwanted solid particles or cell debris from liquids. Centrifuges purify these impurities by allowing them to settle to the bottom, and then easily separate the supernatant. Centrifuges are widely used in various scenarios in the biopharmaceutical industry, including vaccine production, blood product separation, cell culture and separation, enzyme production, and tissue engineering. They are highly efficient, utilizing the centrifugal acceleration generated by high-speed rotation to achieve efficient material separation in a short time. They are also highly adaptable, suitable for separating various biopharmaceutical products such as proteins, enzymes, and cells with high purity. By optimizing centrifugation conditions, high-purity separation of materials can be achieved. In short, centrifuges, as key equipment in the biopharmaceutical industry, have a wide range of applications and a significant position. They are used to separate, purify, concentrate, and clean biopharmaceuticals, ensuring product quality, efficacy, and compliance. These applications help biopharmaceutical companies produce safe and effective drugs and vaccines, and also play a vital role in biopharmaceutical research and development.

[0003] In the daily use of centrifuges, contaminated samples and materials can enter the centrifuge when containers break or are accidentally spilled. Contact with contaminated rotors and centrifuge components poses a risk of contamination. The article "A Brief Analysis of the Mechanism of Aerosol Generation in Biosafety Laboratory Centrifuges" also clarifies the frequent occurrence of centrifuge contamination. In the event of contamination, it is crucial to ensure that others are not affected and to immediately disinfect and sterilize the affected components. During prolonged use, centrifuges also require regular internal disinfection and sterilization to prevent microbial contamination, cross-infection, and ensure product quality.

[0004] Current centrifuge sterilization methods mostly involve disassembling and cleaning each component individually. The centrifuge interior is wiped multiple times with the same disinfectant of appropriate concentration, then rinsed with water and dried. This method is relatively complex, prone to leaving cleaning dead spots, and consumes a lot of manpower, affecting production efficiency. There is an online high-temperature steam sterilization centrifuge, but it is expensive. During the sterilization process, solid materials (such as cell wall fragments of microorganisms) are easily left inside the equipment, requiring additional cleaning steps to ensure the hygiene of the equipment. It cannot be flexibly adjusted according to the degree of contamination.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve the problems of complex procedures, high manpower consumption, inflexible use, and reduced production efficiency when manually disinfecting and sterilizing centrifuges, an intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceuticals is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceuticals, which solves the problem that existing centrifuges mostly rely on manual disassembly and sterilization, resulting in complicated operation steps, high manpower consumption, and reduced production efficiency. This invention uses high-temperature and high-pressure steam to sterilize the centrifuge chamber, and drives the control components to discharge steam from different outlets according to the installation of the drum, thereby reducing manpower waste and improving efficiency.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0008] An intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications includes a body, a top cover, a centrifuge chamber, a rotating drum, and a motor. The top cover is located on the upper side of the body, the centrifuge chamber is located inside the body, the motor output end has a rotating shaft, and the rotating drum is located inside the centrifuge chamber and rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. The device also includes a sterilization mechanism, which includes a steam generator and a control component connected to the output end of the steam generator. The control component is located inside the rotating shaft, and the rotating drum can contact or detach from the control component, thereby controlling the connection or disconnection of the sterilization mechanism from the centrifuge chamber. This allows for situational cleaning of the devices within the centrifuge chamber. When the rotating drum is heavily contaminated, high-pressure steam sterilization alone is ineffective, so it needs to be removed for separate cleaning. Other components and the inner wall of the centrifuge chamber can still be sterilized using high-pressure steam.

[0009] In the above scheme, the individual disassembly and disinfection of each component is replaced by high-pressure steam sterilization of components with less severe contamination, based on the degree of contamination. This eliminates the need for complete disassembly, saving manpower and improving efficiency. After high-pressure steam sterilization, the centrifuge chamber must be cooled before it can be opened.

[0010] Furthermore, an air passage is provided inside the rotating shaft, and a side wall air port and a limiting hole are provided on the side wall of the rotating shaft. The air passage communicates with the side wall air port and the limiting hole. The control component is disposed inside the air passage and includes a control spring, a rubber stopper, and a cross pressure plate. A spring seat is provided inside the air passage. One end of the control spring is fixed to the spring seat, and the other end is connected to the rubber stopper. The rubber stopper can block the side wall air port, and its end away from the control spring is connected to the cross pressure plate. The cross pressure plate extends through the limiting hole to the outside of the rotating shaft. Thus, through the cooperation of the rotating drum and the cross pressure plate, the cross pressure plate is squeezed when the rotating drum is installed, which drives the rubber stopper to block the side wall air port, preventing contaminants from entering the air passage through the side wall air port and causing contamination to the sterilization mechanism.

[0011] Furthermore, the top of the rotating shaft is provided with a top air port, which is connected to the air passage. The drum includes a drum body and a drum cover. A sealing gasket is provided on the side of the drum cover near the top air port. Ventilation holes are provided at equal intervals along the circumference inside the plug. Thus, when the drum cover is in place, the sterilization mechanism is prevented from being accidentally opened, which would cause steam to accumulate inside the drum and damage the device. Steam can only be introduced into the centrifuge chamber when the drum cover is open, improving the safety of use and allowing for flexible adjustment according to the usage situation.

[0012] Compared to directly introducing high-pressure steam into the centrifuge chamber through pipelines for sterilization, this invention automatically sterilizes the centrifuge chamber based on whether the drum body and drum cover are installed, and discharges the steam through different outlets (side wall outlets, top outlets, and limiting holes). When the drum body is installed, the top outlet acts on the inside of the drum body, resulting in better cleaning. When the drum body is not installed, the outlets are distributed evenly to sterilize the centrifuge chamber. Since the air passages are located inside the rotating shaft, the shaft needs to be reinforced and made of high-strength, high-temperature resistant materials to ensure its strength.

[0013] Preferably, the side of the cross pressure plate that contacts the drum is an arc surface, and the arc of the bottom side of the drum is the same as the arc of the cross pressure plate. This increases the contact area between the cross pressure plate and the drum, and provides oblique support force to the drum through the cross pressure plate, making the connection between the drum and the shaft more stable, avoiding damage to the shaft caused by unstable rotation of the drum, and extending the service life of the shaft.

[0014] Preferably, the cross plate has inserts evenly spaced along its circumference on the side near the piston, and the rotating shaft has a corresponding slot. The inserts and slots can engage or disengage as the cross plate moves up and down, thereby increasing the contact area between the cross plate and the rotating shaft, improving the stability of the connection between the cross plate and the rotating shaft, and allowing the inserts and slots to bear part of the force on the cross plate, preventing excessive force from the drum on the cross plate during centrifuge operation and thus extending the service life of the cross plate.

[0015] The cross clamp can be made of high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA steel), austenitic stainless steel or wear-resistant steel, which further prevents damage to the cross clamp.

[0016] Preferably, a shielding assembly is provided on one side of the input end of the pressure relief valve. The shielding assembly includes a baffle, a drive shaft, and a return spring. One side of the baffle is fixed to one end of the drive shaft. A limit block is provided on the drive shaft. The return spring is sleeved on the drive shaft, and one end of it is connected to the limit block. An installation groove is provided on the upper cover. The installation groove includes a baffle part and a limit part. The outer diameter of the baffle is the same as the inner diameter of the baffle part, and it can be inserted into the baffle part. When it is located inside the baffle part, the side away from the pressure relief valve can be on the same plane as the inner surface of the upper cover. This avoids unevenness of the inner wall of the centrifuge chamber caused by the setting of the pressure relief valve, which would cause turbulence in the airflow inside the centrifuge chamber, affect the rotational balance of the drum during operation, increase the stress between the drum and the shaft, and cause the shaft to break. This further strengthens the protection of the shaft. The drive shaft passes through the limit part and extends to the outside of the upper cover. The limit block is slidably disposed in the limit part. The end of the return spring away from the limit block is connected to the side wall of the limit part.

[0017] Furthermore, reinforcing ribs are evenly spaced on the side wall of the shaft near the motor end to strengthen the shaft. The side of the reinforcing rib near the drum body is made of an "L"-shaped elastic material that needs to be resistant to high temperature and corrosion, such as fluorosilicone rubber or tetrafluoroethylene. Its horizontal side contacts the drum body, providing stable support to the drum body while strengthening the shaft, balancing the stress during drum operation, and reducing damage to the equipment caused by uneven drum alignment.

[0018] Preferably, the rotating shaft is provided with a water-blocking ring, the inner wall of which is tightly fitted to the rotating shaft. The water-blocking ring includes a guide portion and an inclined portion. The guide portion has a smooth surface and is coated with a hydrophobic material, such as a ceramic coating or a polytetrafluoroethylene coating. The inclined portion is inclined downward to form a flange, which strengthens the rotating shaft and prevents condensation droplets formed by steam from entering the motor and damaging it, thus extending the service life of the motor.

[0019] In the above scheme, the rotating shaft is directly strengthened by setting the curvature of the mating point between the cross pressure plate and the drum and by adding reinforcing ribs. The rotating shaft is also indirectly protected by setting the insert block of the cross pressure plate, setting the shielding component to balance the airflow in the centrifugal chamber, and setting the water baffle ring to protect the motor. This extends the service life of the rotating shaft, avoids delays in the construction period caused by frequent replacement of the rotating shaft, and improves production efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, the upper cover is equipped with a pressure limiting valve, and the input end of the pressure limiting valve is equipped with a filter screen. The filter screen is spherical, and rotating heads are provided at its left and right ends. The filter screen is used to filter and clean the exhaust steam after disinfection and sterilization to prevent harmful components from forming aerosols. The rotating head is rotatably connected to a locking block, which is locked and fixed to the side wall of the input end of the pressure limiting valve, making it easy to disassemble and replace the filter screen.

[0021] In the above scheme, the filter screen is installed in a rotating manner, thereby performing double-layer filtration on the exhaust steam. At the same time, the flow of steam can drive the filter screen to rotate slowly, so that the filter screen can be used efficiently, avoiding the accumulation of pollutants in one place, which would reduce the cleaning and filtration effect and improve safety.

[0022] Furthermore, a sealing ring is provided on the side of the centrifuge chamber that contacts the top cover, and a pressure ring is provided on the top cover corresponding to the sealing ring position. The sealing ring includes an installation part and a sealing part. One side of the sealing part is connected to the installation part, and the other side is inclined outward. Its free side outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the pressure ring. A sealing block with an uneven surface is provided in the middle of the sealing part. The sealing block can press against the top cover to form multiple sealing spaces, strengthen the seal, prevent steam from escaping from the gaps, and ensure that the steam is filtered by the filter screen and discharged through the pressure relief valve, further improving safety.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0024] 1. This invention addresses the problem that existing solid-liquid separation equipment for biopharmaceuticals requires individual disassembly and cleaning of each component during sterilization, resulting in complex and labor-intensive operations. Furthermore, existing online high-temperature steam sterilization centrifuges cannot perform targeted sterilization based on contamination levels. By coordinating the drive assembly with the rotating drum, the outlet position can be controlled based on three scenarios: when the drum body is in place, when the drum cover is in place, and when the drum is not in place. This makes the equipment more flexible, reduces manpower waste, and improves efficiency.

[0025] 2. By strengthening the rotating shaft and adding reinforcing ribs, the rotating drum is supported, and the fit between the cross pressure plate and the rotating drum is enhanced. This increases the strength of the rotating shaft, makes the rotating drum run more stably, reduces the stress on the rotating shaft when the rotating drum is in place, extends the service life of the rotating shaft, and avoids frequent replacement of the rotating shaft, which would affect production efficiency.

[0026] 3. The exhaust steam is filtered through a spherical filter screen, and the steam drives the filter screen to rotate, ensuring that all parts of the filter screen are fully utilized. This avoids severe local contamination that could affect the filtration effect, thereby reducing the formation of aerosols containing pollutants. At the same time, the combination of the pressure ring and the sealing ring forms a multi-layer sealing space, strengthening the seal, preventing steam leakage, and improving the safety of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is an overall cross-sectional view of the intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a sectional view of the end of the spindle of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the main shaft and the rotating drum of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the main shaft and centrifuge chamber when the drum of the present invention is not installed;

[0032] Figure 6 for Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A;

[0033] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the shielding component with the baffle in place;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the mating process between the sealing ring and the pressure ring of the present invention;

[0035] In the diagram: 1. Machine body; 2. Top cover; 21. Pressure relief valve; 211. Filter screen; 211a. Rotating head; 211b. Locking block; 22. Shielding assembly; 221. Baffle plate; 222. Drive shaft; 222a. Limiting block; 223. Return spring; 23. Mounting groove; 231. Baffle plate part; 232. Limiting part; 24. Pressure ring; 3. Centrifuge chamber; 31. Sealing ring; 311. Mounting part; 312. Sealing part; 313. Sealing block; 4. Rotating drum; 41. Drum body; 42. Drum cover; 421. Sealing gasket; 5. Motor; 51. Shaft; 511. Air passage; 511a. Spring seat; 512. Side wall air port; 513. Limiting hole; 514. Top air port; 515. Slot; 516. Reinforcing rib; 517. Water baffle ring; 517a. Flow guide; 517b. Inclined part; 6. Sterilization mechanism; 61. Steam generator; 62. Control assembly; 621. Control spring; 622. Plug; 622a. Vent hole; 623. Cross pressure plate; 623a. Insert block. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To ensure a clear and complete description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, and to make the features and advantages more apparent and understandable, the specific implementation methods of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] Please see Figures 1 to 8 This invention provides an intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications, the technical solution of which is as follows:

[0038] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2A smart solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications includes a body 1, a top cover 2, a centrifuge chamber 3, a rotating drum 4, and a motor 5. The top cover 2 is located on the upper side of the body 1, the centrifuge chamber 3 is located inside the body 1, the output end of the motor 5 is provided with a rotating shaft 51, the rotating drum 4 is located inside the centrifuge chamber 3 and is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 51, and also includes a sterilization mechanism 6. The sterilization mechanism 6 includes a steam generator 61 and a control component 62 connected to the output end of the steam generator 61. The control component 62 is located inside the rotating shaft 51, and the rotating drum 4 can contact or detach from the control component 62, thereby controlling the connection or disconnection of the sterilization mechanism 6 with the centrifuge chamber 3, thereby enabling targeted disinfection and sterilization according to the contamination situation.

[0039] In the above scheme, drum 4 is most easily contaminated by samples, resulting in a large amount of contaminant residue. Therefore, drum 4 often needs to be disassembled and sterilized separately, which can be divided into the following three situations:

[0040] 1. When the drum 4 is not installed, the sterilization mechanism 6 is connected to the inside of the centrifuge chamber 3, and steam can be introduced into the centrifuge chamber 3 through the side wall air port 512, the limiting hole 513 and the top air port 514 to uniformly sterilize the side walls of the centrifuge chamber 3.

[0041] 2. When only the drum body 41 is installed in the rotating drum 4, the sterilization mechanism 6 is connected to the inside of the centrifuge chamber 3. Steam can enter the centrifuge chamber 3 through the top air port 514. The steam discharged from the top air port 514 will first disinfect and sterilize the inside of the drum body 41, and perform targeted disinfection to make sterilization more thorough without dead corners.

[0042] 3. When the drum body 41 and drum cover 42 of the rotating drum 4 are both installed in place, all air outlets are blocked, the sterilization mechanism 6 is disconnected from the centrifuge chamber 3, and steam is prevented from accumulating inside the rotating drum 4, which would increase the pressure and damage the solid-liquid separation equipment.

[0043] Among them, reference Figure 3 An air passage 511 is provided inside the rotating shaft 51. A side wall air port 512 and a limiting hole 513 are provided on the side wall of the rotating shaft 51. The air passage 511 communicates with the side wall air port 512 and the limiting hole 513. The control component 62 is disposed inside the air passage 511 and includes a control spring 621, a plug 622 and a cross pressure plate 623. A spring seat 511a is provided inside the air passage 511. One end of the control spring 621 is fixed to the spring seat 511a and the other end is connected to the plug 622. The plug 622 can block the side wall air port 512. The end away from the control spring 621 is connected to the cross pressure plate 623. The cross pressure plate 623 extends through the limiting hole 513 to the outside of the rotating shaft 51. The plug 622 blocks the side wall air port 512 through the contact and cooperation between the drum body 41 and the cross pressure plate 623.

[0044] When the drum body 41 is installed, the drum body 41 presses against the cross pressure plate 623. The cross pressure plate 623 drives the rubber plug 622 to move down to the side wall air port 512, blocking the side wall air port 512 and hindering the flow of steam at the side wall air port 512. This causes the steam to accumulate and flow out through the top air port 514, thus enhancing the high-pressure steam sterilization inside the drum body 41. When the drum body 41 is disassembled, the cross pressure plate 623 is reset under the action of the control spring 621, and the rubber plug 622 releases the obstruction of the side wall air port 512. Steam can then be output from the side wall air port 512 into the centrifuge chamber 3.

[0045] Furthermore, refer to Figure 3 The top of the rotating shaft 51 is provided with a top air port 514, which is connected to the air passage 511. The rotating drum 4 includes a drum body 41 and a drum cover 42. A sealing gasket 421 is provided on the side of the drum cover 42 near the top air port 514. Vent holes 622a are provided at equal intervals along the circumference inside the plug 622. When the drum cover 514 is installed, the sealing gasket 421 blocks the top air port 514. At the same time, due to the obstruction of the side wall air port 512 and the limiting hole 513 by the installation of the drum body 41, steam cannot be output into the rotating drum 4, which prevents the steam pressure from being too high and causing damage to the solid-liquid separation equipment, and improves the safety of the equipment.

[0046] Among them, reference Figure 3 The side of the cross pressure plate 623 that contacts the drum 4 is an arc surface. The arc of the bottom side of the drum 4 is the same as the arc of the cross pressure plate 623. This increases the contact area between the cross pressure plate 623 and the drum 4, and provides oblique support force to the drum 4 through the cross pressure plate 623, making the connection between the drum 4 and the shaft 51 more stable and preventing damage to the shaft 51 caused by the unstable rotation of the drum 4.

[0047] Furthermore, refer to Figure 3 The cross plate 623 has inserts 623a evenly spaced along its circumference on the side near the piston 622. The rotating shaft 51 has a corresponding slot 515. The inserts 623a and slots 515 can engage or disengage as the position of the cross plate 623 changes. When the cross plate 623 is pressed down by the drum 41, the inserts 623a engage with the slots 515. When the drum 41 is removed, the cross plate 623 returns to its original position, and the inserts 623a separate from the slots 515. This increases the contact area between the cross plate 623 and the rotating shaft 51, improving the stability of the connection between the cross plate 623 and the rotating shaft 51. The engagement of the inserts 623a and slots 515 helps the cross plate 623 bear some of the force, preventing damage to the cross plate 623 caused by excessive force exerted by the drum 4 during centrifuge operation.

[0048] Furthermore, refer to Figure 3The rotating shaft 51 has reinforcing ribs 516 arranged at equal intervals on the side wall of the end near the motor 5 to strengthen the rotating shaft 51. The side of the reinforcing rib 516 near the drum body 41 is made of an "L"-shaped elastic material, such as fluorosilicone rubber or tetrafluoroethylene. Its horizontal side contacts the drum body 41 to provide stable support for the drum body 41 and balance the stress when the drum 4 is running.

[0049] Furthermore, refer to Figure 3 A water-retaining ring 517 is provided on the rotating shaft 51. The inner wall of the water-retaining ring 517 is in close contact with the rotating shaft 51. It includes a guide part 517a and an inclined part 517b. The surface of the guide part 517a is smooth and coated with a hydrophobic material, such as a ceramic coating or a polytetrafluoroethylene coating. The inclined part 517b is inclined downward to form a flange, which prevents the condensate formed by the steam from entering the motor 5 and damaging the motor 5. At the same time, the water-retaining ring 517 also strengthens the rotating shaft 51, extends the service life of the solid-liquid separation equipment, and further improves production efficiency.

[0050] It should be noted that, referring to Figure 6 The upper cover 2 is equipped with a pressure limiting valve 21. A filter screen 211 is provided at the input end of the pressure limiting valve 21. The filter screen 211 is spherical and filters and cleans the exhaust steam after disinfection and sterilization to prevent pollutants from forming aerosols. Rotating heads 211a are provided at the left and right ends of the filter screen 211a. The rotating heads 211a are rotatably connected to the locking blocks 211b. The locking blocks 211b are locked and fixed to the side wall of the input end of the pressure limiting valve 21, which facilitates the disassembly and replacement of the filter screen 211.

[0051] Furthermore, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 A blocking assembly 22 is provided on one side of the input end of the pressure relief valve 21. The blocking assembly 22 includes a baffle 221, a drive shaft 222, and a return spring 223. One side of the baffle 221 is fixed to one end of the drive shaft 222. A limit block 222a is provided on the drive shaft 222. The return spring 223 is sleeved on the drive shaft 222, and one end of it is connected to the limit block 222a. An installation groove 23 is provided on the upper cover 2. The installation groove 23 includes a baffle part 231 and a limit part 232. The outer diameter of the baffle is the same as the inner diameter of the baffle part, and it can be inserted into the baffle part. It is located inside the baffle part. When the pressure relief valve 21 is in place, the side away from the pressure relief valve 21 can be on the same plane as the inner surface of the upper cover 2. The drive shaft 222 passes through the limiting part 232 and extends to the outside of the upper cover 2. The limiting block 222a is slidably disposed in the limiting part 232. The end of the return spring 223 away from the limiting block 222a is connected to the side wall of the limiting part 232, thereby avoiding the unevenness of the inner wall of the centrifuge chamber 3 caused by the setting of the pressure relief valve 21, which would cause the airflow in the centrifuge chamber 3 to form turbulence, affect the rotational balance of the drum 4 during operation, increase the stress between the drum 4 and the shaft 51, and cause the shaft 51 to break.

[0052] In use, press down on the drive shaft 222 and rotate it 180° to disengage the baffle 221 from the baffle part 231, thus removing the obstruction to the input end of the pressure limiting valve 21. When the air pressure in the centrifuge chamber 3 reaches the set value, the steam is filtered through the filter screen 211, and the filter screen 211 is rotated slightly to ensure that all parts of the filter screen 211 participate in filtration evenly, thereby improving the filtration effect. Finally, the steam is discharged through the output end of the pressure limiting valve 21, maintaining a certain pressure in the centrifuge chamber 3. After sterilization, adjust the pressure limiting valve 21 to release the pressure in the centrifuge chamber 3, and press and rotate the drive shaft 222 to fully engage the baffle 221 with the baffle part 231.

[0053] It is worth noting that, referring to Figure 8 A sealing ring 31 is provided on the side of the centrifuge chamber 3 that contacts the upper cover 2. A pressure ring 24 is provided on the upper cover 2 corresponding to the sealing ring 31. The sealing ring 31 includes an installation part 311 and a sealing part 312. One side of the sealing part 312 is connected to the installation part 311, and the other side is inclined outward. Its free side outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the pressure ring 24. A sealing block 313 with a concave and convex surface is provided in the middle of the sealing part 312. The sealing block 313 can press and contact the upper cover 2 to form multiple sealing spaces, strengthen the seal, prevent steam from escaping from the gaps, and improve safety.

[0054] In summary, when the solid-liquid separation equipment needs to be disinfected and sterilized, first check the contamination level inside the centrifuge. If the drum 4 is heavily contaminated, remove it and clean it separately. Then, press down and rotate the drive shaft 222. The limit block 222a compresses the return spring 223, and the drive shaft 222 drives the baffle 221 to move down and disengage from the baffle part 231, rotating it to one side to release the obstruction of the pressure limiting valve 21, putting the pressure limiting valve 21 in the in-position operating state. Then, start the sterilization mechanism 6, and steam is generated in the steam generator 61. The air passage is introduced into the rotating shaft 51, and according to the installation of the drum, it is introduced into the centrifuge chamber 3 through the side wall air port 512, the limiting hole 513 and the top air port 514 to disinfect and sterilize the equipment in the centrifuge chamber 3. Then, as the steam pressure increases, the steam is filtered through the filter screen 211 and drives the filter screen 211 to rotate. Finally, it is discharged through the pressure relief valve 21. The maximum time for high-pressure sterilization is no more than 20 minutes at 121°C. After that, the sterilization mechanism 6 is turned off, and after the equipment cools down, the top cover 2 is opened to remove the condensate.

[0055] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications, comprising a body (1), a top cover (2), a centrifuge chamber (3), a rotating drum (4), and a motor (5), wherein the top cover (2) is disposed on the upper side of the body (1), the centrifuge chamber (3) is disposed inside the body (1), the output end of the motor (5) is provided with a rotating shaft (51), and the rotating drum (4) is disposed inside the centrifuge chamber (3) and rotatably connected to the rotating shaft (51), characterized in that: It also includes a sterilization mechanism (6), which includes a steam generator (61) and a control component (62) connected to the output end of the steam generator (61). The control component (62) is located inside the rotating shaft (51). The rotating drum (4) can contact or detach from the control component (62) to control the connection or disconnection of the sterilization mechanism (6) from the centrifuge chamber (3). An air passage (511) is provided inside the rotating shaft (51). A side wall air port (512) and a limiting hole (513) are provided on the peripheral side wall of the rotating shaft (51). The air passage (511) communicates with the side wall air port (512) and the limiting hole (513). The control component (62) is disposed inside the air passage (511) and includes a control spring (621), a stopper (622), and a cross pressure plate (623). 511) An internal spring seat (511a) is provided. One end of the control spring (621) is fixed on the spring seat (511a), and the other end is connected to the plug (622). The plug (622) can block the side wall air port (512). The end away from the control spring (621) is connected to the cross pressure plate (623). The cross pressure plate (623) extends through the limiting hole (513) to the outside of the rotating shaft (51). The top of the rotating shaft (51) is provided with a top air port (514), which is connected to the air passage (511). The rotating drum (4) includes a drum body (41) and a drum cover (42). A sealing gasket (421) is provided on the side of the drum cover (42) near the top air port (514). Vent holes (622a) are provided at equal intervals along the circumference inside the plug (622). The upper cover (2) is provided with a pressure limiting valve (21). The input end of the pressure limiting valve (21) is provided with a filter screen (211). The filter screen (211) is spherical, and a rotating head (211a) is provided at its left and right ends. The rotating head (211a) is rotatably connected to a locking block (211b). The locking block (211b) is locked and fixed to the side wall of the input end of the pressure limiting valve (21).

2. The intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side of the cross pressure plate (623) that contacts the drum (4) is an arc surface, and the arc of the bottom side of the drum (4) is the same as the arc of the cross pressure plate (623).

3. The intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical manufacturing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cross pressure plate (623) has inserts (623a) arranged at equal intervals along the circumference on the side near the rubber plug (622). The rotating shaft (51) has a slot (515) at the corresponding position. The inserts (623a) and the slot (515) can be engaged or disengaged as the cross pressure plate (623) moves up and down.

4. The intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A shielding assembly (22) is provided on one side of the input end of the pressure relief valve (21). The shielding assembly (22) includes a baffle (221), a drive shaft (222), and a return spring (223). One side of the baffle (221) is fixed to one end of the drive shaft (222). A limit block (222a) is provided on the drive shaft (222). The return spring (223) is sleeved on the drive shaft (222), and one end of it is connected to the limit block (222a). An installation groove (23) is provided on the upper cover (2). The installation groove (23) includes a baffle portion (231). The baffle (221) has the same outer diameter as the baffle part (231) and can be inserted into the baffle part (231). When it is inside the baffle part (231), the side away from the pressure relief valve (21) can be on the same plane as the inner surface of the upper cover (2). The drive shaft (222) passes through the limit part (232) and extends to the outside of the upper cover (2). The limit block (222a) is slidably disposed in the limit part (232). The end of the return spring (223) away from the limit block (222a) is connected to the side wall of the limit part (232).

5. The intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating shaft (51) has reinforcing ribs (516) evenly spaced on the side wall near the motor (5). The side of the reinforcing rib (516) near the drum body (41) is made of an "L"-shaped elastic material, and its horizontal side is in contact with the drum body (41).

6. The intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical applications according to claim 5, characterized in that: A sealing ring (31) is provided on the side of the centrifuge chamber (3) that contacts the upper cover (2). A pressure ring (24) is provided on the upper cover (2) corresponding to the sealing ring (31). The sealing ring (31) includes an installation part (311) and a sealing part (312). One side of the sealing part (312) is connected to the installation part (311), and the other side is inclined outward. Its free side outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the pressure ring (24). A sealing block (313) with a concave and convex surface is provided in the middle of the sealing part (312). The sealing block (313) can be squeezed and contacted with the upper cover (2).

7. The intelligent solid-liquid separation device for biopharmaceutical manufacturing according to claim 6, characterized in that: A water-blocking ring (517) is provided on the rotating shaft (51). The inner wall of the water-blocking ring (517) is tightly fitted with the rotating shaft (51). It includes a flow guide (517a) and an inclined part (517b). The surface of the flow guide (517a) is smooth and coated with a hydrophobic material. The inclined part (517b) is inclined downward to form a flange.

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