Liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering material supplement in cell culture process

Abstract

The utility model provides a liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with material supplement in a cell culture process. The liquid level measuring device comprises a liquid level probe, an adjustable gain amplifier, a liquid level relay and a controller which are connected in sequence. And the purging air pipe is used for purging the liquid level probe. Foam around the liquid level probe can be cleaned up through blowing, and the foam interfering with the material supplementing liquid level is further eliminated. According to the utility model, the adjustable gain amplifier is additionally arranged between the liquid level probe and the liquid level relay, after the liquid level probe is in contact with a culture medium, the liquid level probe and the adjustable gain amplifier form a signal loop, and a signal is input into the liquid level relay after being amplified; the internal comparator of the liquid level relay more correctly drives the internal relay on-off controller to input signals. By adding the pre-amplifier, the micro liquid level signal difference between the culture medium and the foam can be amplified, and finally the effect of distinguishing the micro liquid level signal difference between the foam and the real culture medium can be achieved on the controller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of liquid level measurement in a cell culture process, in particular to a liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process. Background Art

[0002] During cell culture, as culture time increases and nutrients in the culture medium are consumed, perfusion feeding based on the liquid level is often required to meet the needs of cell growth and function. However, the upper layer of the culture medium often produces foam due to aeration. Furthermore, the conductivity of the foam generated during the actual cell culture feeding process is very close to that of the actual culture medium, making it difficult to measure the actual culture medium level. This can easily be interfered with by the foam, leading to inaccurate level measurements.

[0003] In view of the above problems, the utility model provides a liquid level measuring device that prevents foam from interfering with feeding during a cell culture process, so as to reduce the influence of foam on the liquid level of the culture medium when measuring the liquid level of the culture medium. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on the above description, the utility model provides a liquid level measuring device that prevents foam from interfering with feeding during the cell culture process. The existing liquid level measuring device is modified and signal amplification is used to distinguish the slight difference between the foam and the actual culture medium liquid level signal to solve the problem of foam in the culture medium interfering with the actual liquid level measurement.

[0005] The technical solution of the utility model to solve the above technical problems is as follows:

[0006] A liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process comprises a liquid level probe, an adjustable gain amplifier, a liquid level relay and a controller connected in sequence.

[0007] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process, the adjustable gain amplifier is a voltage amplifier.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process, the model of the liquid level relay is GRL8-02, and the model of the controller is S1214.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process, the model of the voltage amplifier is SKC5460-6091.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process, the model of the liquid level probe is SKC0301-137C.

[0011] On the basis of the above technical solution, the present invention can also be improved as follows.

[0012] Furthermore, the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in the cell culture process also includes a purge air pipe connected to the side of the liquid level probe, and the side wall of the purge air pipe is provided with several gas outlets facing the tip of the liquid level probe, and the purge air pipe is connected to the outside clean compressed air.

[0013] Furthermore, the above-mentioned liquid level measurement device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process further includes a purge air pipe, the liquid level probe is connected to the purge air pipe, and the purge air pipe is connected to clean compressed air from the outside.

[0014] Furthermore, the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process further includes a solenoid valve, which is connected to the pipeline between the purge air pipe and the external clean compressed air.

[0015] Furthermore, the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process further includes a filter, which is connected to the pipeline between the purge air pipe and the solenoid valve.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process, the adjustable gain amplifier is a voltage amplifier.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the utility model has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0018] This utility model adds an adjustable-gain amplifier between the liquid level probe and the liquid level relay. When the liquid level probe contacts the liquid, the generated voltage signal is amplified by the adjustable-gain amplifier and input into the liquid level relay, which then compares the voltage signal. By pre-amplifying the tiny signal differences, the liquid level relay can accurately distinguish the amplified signals, ultimately achieving the effect of distinguishing the slightest difference between the foam and the actual culture medium liquid level signals in the controller.

[0019] The clean compressed air will be filtered into sterile air through the solenoid valve and filter, and then pass through the foam purge air pipe. The sterile clean air will briefly purge the exposed detection part of the liquid level probe. Repeated short purges will clean the foam around the liquid level probe and further eliminate the foam that interferes with the feeding liquid level. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding during a cell culture process, provided in Example 1 of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 2This is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding during a cell culture process, provided in Example 2 of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding during a cell culture process, provided in Example 3 of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the integrated probe of the liquid level measuring device provided in Example 3 of the present utility model.

[0024] In the accompanying drawings, the components represented by the reference numerals are as follows:

[0025] 1. Liquid level probe; 2. Adjustable gain amplifier; 3. Liquid level relay; 4. Purge air pipe; 5. Filter; 6. Solenoid valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To facilitate understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings provide embodiments of the present application. However, the present application may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0028] It will be understood that spatial relational terms such as "under," "beneath," "below," "under," "above," "above," etc., may be used herein to describe the relationship of an element or feature shown in the figures to other elements or features. It will be understood that in addition to the orientations shown in the figures, spatial relational terms also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, the element or feature described as "under" or "beneath" or "beneath" the other elements will be oriented as "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary terms "under" and "under" may include both upper and lower orientations. In addition, the device may also include alternative orientations, and the spatial descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0029] It should be noted that when an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element through an intermediate element. In the following embodiments, "connection" should be understood as "electrical connection", "communication connection", etc., if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc. can transmit electrical signals or data to each other.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] The utility model provides a liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process. The device comprises a liquid level probe 1, an adjustable gain amplifier 2, a liquid level relay 3 and a controller which are connected in sequence.

[0032] The liquid level probe 1 is used to contact and conduct the liquid, and can provide a conductive circuit between the liquid and the metal part of the tank. After the liquid level probe 1 is connected to the metal part of the tank, a small analog signal will be formed. The adjustable gain amplifier 2 is used to enhance the signal output by the liquid level probe 1, and the required amplification factor can be selected according to the conductivity of the liquid. The liquid level relay 3 can compare and distinguish the amplified signal and trigger the switching action of the relay output port through the internal circuit. The controller input port receives the high and low level signals of the liquid level relay 3 output port switch, and makes a correct judgment on the culture medium liquid level, thereby eliminating the interference of the foam 6 on the actual liquid level.

[0033] That is, after the liquid level probe 1 contacts the liquid and is turned on, the signal of the liquid level probe 1 is amplified by the adjustable gain amplifier 2 and input into the liquid level relay 3. The liquid level relay 3 can then correctly compare and distinguish, and then make a switch. Finally, the controller receives the correct high and low levels to achieve the effect of being able to distinguish the slight differences between the liquid level signals of the foam 6 and the real culture medium 5.

[0034] Preferably, the adjustable gain amplifier 2 is a voltage amplifier.

[0035] Preferably, the model of the liquid level relay 3 is GRL8-02, which has the function of amplifying the signal and can further amplify the signal; the model of the controller is S1214, which can convert the conductivity signal into the liquid level height.

[0036] Preferably, the voltage amplifier is of model SKC5460-6091, which can adjust the amplification factor.

[0037] Preferably, the model of the liquid level probe 1 is SKC0301-137C.

[0038] Measurement principle: An adjustable gain amplifier 2 is added between the liquid level probe 1 and the liquid level relay 3. After the liquid level probe 1 contacts the liquid and is turned on, the liquid level probe 1 transmits the signal to the adjustable gain amplifier 2. After being amplified by the adjustable gain amplifier 2, the signal is input into the liquid level relay 3. The tiny signal difference is compared and distinguished by the pre-amplifier 3, and finally the correct liquid level signal is received by the controller, achieving the effect of being able to distinguish the tiny difference between the foam 6 and the real culture medium 5 liquid level signals, thereby obtaining the real liquid level height.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] Based on Example 1, to further eliminate the possibility of foam interfering with the feed level, this embodiment adds a purge air pipe 4 adjacent to the level probe. Several gas outlets are defined on the sidewall of the purge air pipe 4, facing the tip of the level probe. This purge air pipe 4 is connected to clean compressed air from the outside. This area can be adjacent but not touching, for example, with a distance of 1 mm to 2 mm. This clean compressed air is provided by an external gas generator, using a conventional method. This is not an improvement of the present invention and will not be described in detail here.

[0041] In this embodiment, the number of gas outlets is not limited as long as it can meet the requirements of purging foam, and can be 1, 2, 3, 5, etc.

[0042] In order to facilitate the control of the blowing time of the gas, a solenoid valve 6 may be further connected to the pipeline between the purge air pipe 4 and the external clean compressed air.

[0043] In order to make the blown gas cleaner and avoid the introduction of miscellaneous bacteria, a filter 5 can be connected to the pipeline between the purge air pipe 4 and the solenoid valve 6.

[0044] The model of the filter 5 is SKC5200-0491.

[0045] Example 3

[0046] Based on Example 1, different from Example 2, the liquid level probe and the purge air pipe 4 of this embodiment are an integrated probe, that is, the liquid level probe is connected to the inside of the purge air pipe 4, and there is a gap between the inner wall of the liquid level probe and the purge air pipe 4 so that the gas can be blown onto the liquid level probe.

[0047] Measuring principle:

[0048] When the liquid level probe detects the liquid level signal, the controller will control the opening of the solenoid valve 6, and the clean compressed air will be filtered into sterile air through the solenoid valve 6 and the filter 5, and then pass through the foam purge air pipe 4. The sterile clean air will briefly purge the exposed detection part of the liquid level probe. Repeated short purges will clean up the foam around the liquid level probe and further eliminate the foam that interferes with the feeding liquid level.

[0049] The advantages of this utility model are: through minor modifications, it solves the problem of foam 6 interfering with feed level measurement during the cell culture process, and this solution adds negligible cost, thus avoiding the problem of equipment manufacturing and use costs increasing by a factor of 10 when replacing the liquid level solution with a weighing solution in some feeding scenarios.

[0050] It should be understood that the terms "include / comprise" or "have" and the like specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding during cell culture, characterized in that: The invention comprises a liquid level probe (1), an adjustable gain amplifier (2), a liquid level relay (3) and a controller which are connected in sequence.

2. A liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustable gain amplifier (2) is a voltage amplifier.

3. The liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a purge air pipe (4) connected to the side of the liquid level probe (1), wherein the side wall of the purge air pipe (4) is provided with a plurality of gas outlets facing the tip of the liquid level probe (1), and the purge air pipe (4) is connected to the outside clean compressed air.

4. The liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a purge air pipe (4), the liquid level probe (1) is connected to the purge air pipe (4), and the purge air pipe (4) is connected to external clean compressed air.

5. A liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: It also includes a solenoid valve (6), which is connected to a pipeline between the purge air pipe (4) and the external clean compressed air.

6. The liquid level measuring device for preventing foam from interfering with feeding in a cell culture process according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes a filter (5), which is connected to the pipeline between the purge air pipe (4) and the solenoid valve (6).

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