Powder Hydration System with Eductor and Auger Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional powder hydration systems in the biopharmaceutical industry are labor-intensive, costly, and inefficient, particularly when dealing with hydrophobic and low bulk density powders that tend to float and adhere to the sides of hydration containers, leading to incomplete mixing and powder loss.
Innovation Solution
A powder mixing system comprising a conduit with a fluid pump, an eductor, and an auger assembly that facilitates the efficient mixing of powders with liquids by using a tubular transfer member and collapsible powder bags, ensuring complete hydration and minimizing powder loss through the use of an eductor to draw powders into the liquid stream and an auger to aid in mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional powder bags are suspended vertically above hydration containers for dispensing, then powder can be dispensed into the container, but the system requires costly access structures and industrial lifts, increasing device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the powder bag below the hydration container rather than above it. The powder is fed upward through a feed tube into the container, eliminating the need for overhead cranes, lifts, and access structures. This inversion resolves the technical contradiction by removing costly support infrastructure while maintaining powder dispensing functionality.
2Loss of substance
If hydrophobic powders are poured directly into hydration containers, then powder can be added to liquid, but the powders float and adhere to container sides, causing powder loss and incomplete mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device - a feed tube with a submerged dispensing tip that delivers powder directly into the liquid bulk away from container walls. This intermediary mechanism prevents hydrophobic powders from adhering to container sides and ensures complete incorporation into the liquid, eliminating powder loss and improving mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual pouring operations with an automated feed tube system that uses liquid flow dynamics to deliver powder directly into the liquid. This substitution eliminates the mechanical act of pouring that causes powder to float and adhere to walls, resolving the contradiction between powder loss and mixing efficiency.
3Productivity
If mixing is facilitated solely within the large volume hydration container, then mixing can occur, but the process is slow and time consuming, increasing loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mixing action by delivering powder directly into the liquid flow path where it is immediately incorporated. This preliminary action occurs at the point of dispensing rather than relying on subsequent bulk mixing, significantly reducing overall mixing time and increasing productivity.
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 system significantly reduces mixing time, prevents powder loss, and eliminates the need for costly access structures and industrial lifts, enhancing safety and efficiency in large-scale cell culture media preparation.
Implementation Method 1
an eductor coupled to the transfer member and disposed in-line with the conduit so that the liquid pumped through the conduit also passes through the eductor; the eductor further includes a tubular sidewall having an interior surface that bounds a channel... a constricting portion disposed between the inlet portion and the receiving portion and having a third maximum diameter that is smaller than the first maximum diameter and the second maximum diameter, the side opening being aligned with and communicating with the receiving portion or the constricting portion creating a pressure drop within the eductor when fluid is pumped through the channel
Implementation Method 2
an auger assembly comprising an auger blade, at least a portion of the auger assembly being rotatably disposed within the transfer member
Data Source
AI summary
A powder mixing system (12) includes a conduit (40) having a first end and an opposing second end, the conduit bounding a passage; a fluid pump (80) fluid coupled with the conduit, the fluid pump being configured to pump a liquid through the passage of the conduit; and a tubular transfer member (190) in fluid communication with the conduit, the transfer member being configured to couple with a powder bag housing a powder. The mixing system further including: (1) an eductor coupled to the transfer member and disposed in-line with the conduit so that the liquid pumped through the conduit also passes through the eductor; and/or (2) an auger assembly comprising an auger blade, at least a portion of the auger assembly being rotatably disposed within the transfer member.