Chromatography Bead Cleaning Vessel With Vertical and Bottom Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The performance of packed beds in liquid chromatography deteriorates over time due to incomplete removal of contamination during cleaning, leading to aging and reduced effectiveness, especially in industrial applications where the beads are expensive and need to be reused multiple times.
Innovation Solution
A preparation vessel with a combination of bottom and vertical filters is used to automate and facilitate processing steps such as cleaning, activation, and concentration of the chromatography beads, allowing for efficient liquid exchange and particle separation, minimizing the risk of contamination and extending the lifespan of the beads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning methods are used for chromatography beads, then the cleaning process is simple and easy to operate, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient and contamination cannot be completely removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cleaning functions (washing, filtering, and drying) into a single integrated preparation vessel. The vessel includes both bottom filters and vertical filters working together, along with mixing devices and liquid circulation systems, to achieve complete contamination removal in one automated process rather than separate manual steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a preparation vessel as an intermediary device between the chromatography column and the beads. This vessel acts as a dedicated cleaning station with specialized components (filters, mixers, liquid supply systems) that mediate the cleaning process, preventing contamination that would otherwise require complex manual intervention.
2Productivity
If the packed bed is used for extended periods to maximize bead utilization, then cost-effectiveness improves, but contamination accumulates and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary cleaning action by automatically cleaning the beads in the preparation vessel between chromatography runs. The system performs washing, filtering, and drying operations before the beads are reused, preventing contamination accumulation and maintaining performance throughout extended usage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining beads in a clean, ready-to-use state through automated intermediate cleaning. The preparation vessel operates continuously between chromatography runs to remove contamination, allowing the packed bed to be reused many times without performance degradation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If intensive cleaning is performed to remove all contamination, then bead lifespan extends, but the cleaning process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service cleaning where the preparation vessel automatically performs all cleaning operations without manual intervention. The system includes automated liquid circulation, mixing, filtering, and drying functions that clean the beads themselves, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual cleaning while achieving complete contamination removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with automated systems including pumps for liquid circulation, motors for mixing devices, and controlled filtration systems. This substitution reduces cleaning time by automating the process while maintaining thorough contamination removal through coordinated operation of multiple components.
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
The vessel enables faster and more effective cleaning and preparation of chromatography beads, reducing the risk of contamination and extending their usable life, thereby improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of chromatography processes.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom filter is located above and/or for at least 80% or 90% or completely covers the vessel bottom wall
Implementation Method 2
Extraction of material from an vessel internal volume is preferably by gravity action only and/or pump suction
Data Source
AI summary
Packed bed gel material cleaning vessel, has an internal processing volume, to contain the gel, delimited by a circumferential, axially extending, upright vessel wall at both axial ends sealed by a top vessel wall and an opposite bottom vessel wall, the internal processing volume is above 10 litre; sensors of the vessel monitor the filling level of the vessel. A bottom filter completely covers the vessel bottom wall A circumferential, axially extending, cylindrical vertical filter is provided a short radial distance, e.g. between 1 and 20 millimetre internally from, parallel and concentrically with, the upright vessel wall, providing a torus like flow gap concentrical with the upright vessel wall.