Temperature-Controlled Baffles for Bioreactor Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bioreactor systems face challenges in efficiently mixing and cooling biological media, particularly in microbial and fungal cell cultures, which require higher oxygen transfer and cooling rates compared to cell culture processes, and conventional baffles are not effectively temperature-controlled, limiting their cooling capacity.
Innovation Solution
A bioreactor system with a receiving container and stirring system that includes temperature-controlled baffles made of thermally conductive materials, which reduce laminar flow and enhance mixing by generating turbulence, and are designed to be reusable with disposable bioreactor bags, allowing for improved temperature control and cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional baffles are used in the bioreactor system, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the cooling capacity and temperature control are insufficient for intensive microbial and fungal cell cultures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the baffle structure with the temperature control system by integrating cooling channels directly into the baffle components. This merging allows the baffles to simultaneously serve as flow disruption elements and as heat exchange surfaces, thereby increasing cooling capacity without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The baffles are designed to perform multiple functions: they disrupt laminar flow to enhance mixing, provide structural support within the bioreactor, and serve as heat exchange surfaces for temperature control. This multi-functionality addresses the cooling capacity requirement while maintaining reasonable device complexity
2Productivity
If the bioreactor system is designed for intensive microbial and fungal cell cultures requiring higher oxygen transfer and cooling rates, then the productivity and effectiveness of cell cultivation is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor system is segmented into modular components including disposable bioreactor bags and reusable equipment elements. This segmentation allows the complex temperature control and mixing functions to be distributed across multiple components, making the overall system more manageable and easier to manufacture while achieving intensive cell culture requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality enhancements at critical locations such as incorporating temperature-controlled baffles at specific positions within the bioreactor, and using disposable bags with optimized local features for heat exchange and mixing, thereby achieving high productivity without requiring the entire system to be complex
3Ease of operation
If disposable bioreactor bags are used with reusable receiving containers, then the ease of operation and cleaning is improved, but the overall cooling capacity and temperature control may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the disposable bioreactor bag with the reusable receiving container by integrating temperature control interfaces and cooling channels that span both components. This allows the reusable container to provide robust temperature control while the disposable bag maintains ease of operation and cleaning
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 enables more intensive and effective mixing and cooling of biological media, supporting the cultivation of microbial and fungal cell processes by reducing laminar flow and increasing the overall cooling capacity, making previously inaccessible cell cultures accessible.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one baffle is at least partially flowed through by a temperature control medium, which temperature-controls the baffle
Implementation Method 2
The at least one baffle serves to reduce a laminar flow of the biomedium
Implementation Method 3
A stirring system projects at least partially into the receiving space and is designed and configured to stir a biomedium present in the disposable bioreactor bag
Data Source
AI summary
A bioreactor system for receiving a disposable bioreactor bag comprises a receiving container having a container wall which defines a receiving space in which the disposable bioreactor bag is received in an operating state of the bioreactor system. A stirring system projects at least partially into the receiving space and is designed and configured to stir a biomedium present in the disposable bioreactor bag in the operating state of the bioreactor system. At least one baffle, which makes the receiving space smaller and differs from the container wall, serves to reduce a laminar flow of the biomedium. A temperature control medium flows through at least part of the at least one baffle, said temperature control medium controlling the temperature of the baffle.