Disposable Bioreactor Wall Illumination and Temperature Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioreactors and pallet tanks face challenges in efficiently handling and cultivating phototrophic organisms, such as algae and plant cell cultures, particularly at production scales over 50 liters, due to limitations in illumination and temperature control for large disposable vessels.
Innovation Solution
A device with a temperature-control unit and an integrated illumination system that allows for efficient temperature management and light radiation within the vessel, using LEDs and a multiplicity of light sources distributed across the receiving vessel walls to provide uniform illumination, while minimizing heat generation and maintaining sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a disposable vessel with large volume (over 50 liters) is used for phototrophic organism cultivation, then the production scale is improved, but the uniform illumination and temperature control become difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device is divided into multiple independent light sources (LEDs) that are distributed around the inner side of the receiving vessel wall. This segmentation allows each light source to illuminate a specific zone, and collectively they provide uniform illumination across the entire large-volume disposable vessel, resolving the contradiction between production scale and illumination uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system transitions from a single-point or single-plane light source to a three-dimensional distributed array of light sources arranged around the vessel. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions ensures that light reaches all areas of the large-volume vessel uniformly, overcoming the limitation of scale.
2Quantity of substance
If a disposable vessel with large volume (over 50 liters) is used for phototrophic organism cultivation, then the production scale is improved, but the temperature control becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is segmented into multiple temperature control units, each responsible for a specific zone of the receiving vessel wall. This distributed control approach allows precise temperature management across the entire large-volume vessel, maintaining thermal uniformity despite the increased production scale.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving vessel wall acts as an intermediary between the temperature control units and the disposable vessel content. The temperature control units regulate the wall temperature, which in turn controls the temperature of the biological medium inside the disposable vessel, enabling effective temperature management at large scale.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are distributed across the receiving vessel walls to provide uniform illumination, then the illumination uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving vessel wall serves multiple functions: it contains the biological medium, provides structural support, and acts as a mounting surface for both the distributed light sources and temperature control units. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the distributed illumination system.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination device and temperature control units are integrated into the receiving vessel structure, with both systems mounted on or within the vessel wall. This merging of functions into a single structural component reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate illuminated chambers and temperature control systems.
4Temperature
If multiple temperature control units are used to maintain precise temperature, then the temperature control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving vessel wall serves as a common platform for both the distributed temperature control units and the illumination system. This universal structure allows precise temperature control through multiple units without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the wall itself provides the mounting and thermal management infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the efficient cultivation and testing of biological media, including phototrophic organisms, in large disposable vessels by ensuring uniform illumination and precise temperature control, thereby overcoming previous limitations in scale and process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination device which is designed to radiate light into the vessel interior space of the receiving vessel
Implementation Method 2
a temperature-control unit for controlling the temperature of the receiving vessel wall
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for accommodating a disposable container (44) has a receptacle (10) with at least one receptacle wall (16) that defines an interior of the receptacle (10) for accommodating the disposable container (44). The device includes a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the receptacle wall (16). A lighting device (50) is located on an inner face of the receptacle wall (16) that faces the interior of the receptacle (10) and that has the temperature controlled by the temperature control unit. The lighting device (50) is designed to emit light into the interior of the receptacle (10).