Chromatography Gel Cleaning Vessel With Vertical Filter Flow Gap
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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 premature aging and reduced lifespan, especially in industrial applications where the beads are expensive.
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 gel, allowing for efficient removal of particles and faster liquid exchange through optimized filter designs and mixer configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the packed bed is used repeatedly for many months, then the operational duration is extended, but the performance deteriorates due to incomplete contamination removal during cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process is segmented into multiple distinct stages: initial draining, intensive cleaning with back-flushing and forward flushing, and final draining. Each stage targets specific types of contamination with appropriate cleaning mechanisms, ensuring thorough removal of particulate matter, protein aggregates, and other contaminants that would otherwise accumulate and degrade performance over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The intensive cleaning stage is performed as a preliminary action before the packed bed is reused. This includes back-flushing to loosen and remove accumulated contaminants, followed by forward flushing to clear the bed. This preliminary intensive cleaning restores the packed bed performance before the next operational cycle, preventing performance deterioration.
2Device complexity
If traditional cleaning methods are used, then the process is simpler, but contamination removal is incomplete leading to premature aging
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process dynamically switches between different flow directions (back-flushing and forward flushing) and intensities. The system adapts the cleaning approach based on the contamination state, using vigorous back-flushing to loosen contaminants followed by gentle forward flushing to clear them. This dynamic approach ensures complete contamination removal while managing process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process employs periodic action with distinct phases: initial draining, intensive cleaning (back-flush and forward flush), and final draining. Each phase is performed in sequence with specific timing and flow rates, creating a periodic cleaning cycle that systematically removes all types of contamination without requiring overly complex continuous monitoring.
3Quantity of substance
If the packed bed material is expensive, then the investment is high, but complete utilization is difficult due to performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process recovers the packed bed material by completely removing all types of contamination including particulate matter, protein aggregates, and other contaminants. This recovery process restores the material to near-original performance, enabling maximum utilization of the expensive packed bed material across many more cycles and maximizing the return on investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The intensive cleaning process ensures continuous useful action by completely removing contamination between cycles, preventing performance deterioration that would force premature replacement. This enables the packed bed to operate at optimal performance continuously across many cycles, maximizing productivity and utilization of the expensive material.
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 thorough cleaning and reuse of packed bed materials, extending their lifespan and maintaining performance by minimizing contamination and enhancing processing efficiency, thereby reducing costs and improving operational effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
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 gel, allowing for efficient removal of particles
Implementation Method 2
allowing for efficient removal of particles and faster liquid exchange through optimized filter designs and mixer configurations
Implementation Method 3
The beads of the gel can be small or large in diameter, e.g. beads having a diameter between 10 and 1100 micrometre (0.01-1.1 millimetre)
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.