Mixing Vessel With Gas Redirection For Cell Culture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture systems face challenges in achieving effective aeration and mixing without causing damage to cells, leading to 'dead zones' and excessive foaming, which increases costs and reduces biomass production.
Innovation Solution
A mixing vessel with a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion wider than the lower portion, featuring a gas inlet means and redirecting means that redirects rising gas bubbles horizontally, enhancing circulation and aeration without mechanical agitation, and utilizing a tapered geometry to prevent dead zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If sparging air at the base of the vessel is used to achieve aeration and circulation, then oxygen transfer is improved, but dead zones form where culture media is not effectively mixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a redirecting means that changes the vertical rise of gas bubbles into horizontal movement. This dimensional change in gas flow trajectory creates a rolling circulation pattern that eliminates dead zones while maintaining effective aeration throughout the culture medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel is divided into a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion with different functions. The lower portion handles gas sparging and initial bubble rise, while the upper portion with redirecting means handles circulation distribution, segmenting the aeration and mixing functions to improve overall effectiveness.
2Reliability
If increased sparging rate is used to compensate for poor mixing and dead spots, then mixing is improved, but foaming increases and process cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By redirecting rising gas horizontally through the redirecting means, the patent creates efficient circulation patterns that improve mixing without requiring increased sparging rates, thereby avoiding excessive foaming and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for mechanical agitation systems with a gas-flow-based circulation system. The redirecting means uses gas flow dynamics rather than mechanical impellers or stirrers to achieve effective mixing, reducing complexity and avoiding mechanical damage to cells.
3Reliability
If physical barriers are used to separate riser and downcomer, then circulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the riser and downcomer functions within a single integrated chamber design. The redirecting means performs the separation and redirection function without requiring distinct physical barriers or separate tubes, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining circulation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The redirecting means serves multiple functions simultaneously: it redirects gas flow horizontally, creates circulation patterns, eliminates dead zones, and defines chamber portions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device design.
4Reliability
If mechanical agitation is used to achieve homogenous suspension, then mixing is improved, but cell damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical agitation systems with a gas-flow-based circulation system. Rising gas bubbles create gentle convection currents that achieve homogenous suspension without the high shear forces and mechanical stress that damage cells in traditional stirred systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by utilizing rising gas bubbles as the driving force for circulation and mixing. This pneumatic-driven system creates gentle, bubble-induced convection that effectively suspends cells without mechanical contact or excessive force.
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
This design achieves efficient mixing and aeration, reducing the need for physical barriers and minimizing foaming, thereby improving gas transport and cell viability while maintaining low operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the aerated stream of gas and solution that results from sparging the vessel at its base, has a lower density than that of the undisturbed solution and therefore rises
Implementation Method 2
redirecting means for redirecting rising gas, such that, in use, rising gas in the form of bubbles, initially rises substantially vertically in liquid and is redirected in a substantially horizontal direction by the redirecting means for redirecting rising gas
Implementation Method 3
the aerated stream of gas and solution that results from sparging the vessel at its base, has a lower density than that of the undisturbed solution and therefore rises
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing vessel (10) for containing a liquid, comprises a chamber having a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion wider than the lower portion, gas inlet means (14) for supplying gas to the lower portion and means for redirecting rising gas (24), such that, in use, rising gas in the form of bubbles, initially rises substantially vertically and is redirected in a substantially horizontal direction by the means for redirecting rising gas.