Integrated Bioprocess Vessel Pumping to Prevent Cavitation Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bioprocess systems face issues with cavitation, vacuum, and pulsatile flow conditions when separate pumps are used downstream of the vessel, leading to cell damage and disruption, particularly in perfusion methods, due to the need for Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHA) exceeding Net Positive Suction Head Available Required (NPSHR, and flexible tubing collapse causing fluid flow obstruction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pump directly or indirectly into the fluid vessel, such as a bioreactor or fermenter, with a hole or aperture in the bottom surface for fluid passage, secured through flanges or integral formation, eliminating intermediate conduits and ensuring a fluid-tight connection, and using diaphragm pumps for gentle fluid handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a separate pump is used downstream of the vessel, then fluid can be pumped out of the container, but cavitation and vacuum conditions occur leading to cell damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is integrated directly into the vessel structure, merging the pumping function with the containment vessel. This eliminates intermediate connections and ensures that the pump operates directly within the fluid environment, preventing cavitation and vacuum conditions that damage cells while maintaining efficient fluid transfer.
2Productivity
If separate pumping devices are used downstream, then fluid processing can occur, but the system complexity increases with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is combined with the vessel as an integrated unit, reducing the number of separate components. The pump may be formed as an integral part of the vessel or directly coupled to it, eliminating the need for separate downstream pumping devices while maintaining full fluid processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pump-vessel system performs multiple functions within a single unified structure. The vessel contains the biological fluid while the integrated pump simultaneously performs fluid transfer and processing operations, eliminating the need for separate dedicated pumping equipment.
3Ease of operation
If flexible tubing is used to connect vessel to pump, then connection is easy, but tubing collapse causes fluid flow obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is directly integrated into the vessel structure, eliminating the need for flexible tubing connections. This direct integration ensures continuous fluid flow without obstruction while maintaining ease of operation through the simplified unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic flexible tubing connection is completely removed from the system. By integrating the pump directly into the vessel, the design extracts and eliminates the intermediate tubing component that causes collapse and flow obstruction, while the pump inlet is directly exposed to the fluid environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of pumping fluid out of a bioprocess vessel includes providing a bioprocess vessel defining an interior volume and having a bottom surface containing an aperture or port therein for the passage of fluid and a pump head integrally formed with or bonded to the bottom surface of the bioprocess vessel or secured to the port, wherein the pump head further comprises an inlet and an outlet with the inlet in fluid communication with the interior volume, the pump head further including a plurality of diaphragms, each diaphragm associated with a check-valve, wherein sequential actuation of the plurality of diaphragms pumps fluid from the interior volume of the bioprocess vessel into the inlet and out of the outlet. The plurality of diaphragms are actuated with a motor secured to the pump head. In other embodiments, the pump head is secured to the bioprocess vessel with fasteners.