Viscous TFF with Multi-Depth Inlets to Reduce Filter Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tangential flow filtration (TFF) systems face challenges with large biomolecules that form highly viscous compositions, leading to high pressure build-up, filter clogging, and inconsistent processing times due to concentration gradients and clogging, especially in large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A TFF system with a recirculation system and aseptic mixing mechanisms that include multiple inlet ports and a Y-connector to distribute fluid from different depths within the storage vessel, combined with diafiltration solution mixing to reduce concentration gradients and prevent filter clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high flow rates are used to prevent filter clogging, then filter membrane clogging is reduced, but pressure build-up at the inlet increases causing tubing and pump failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single inlet into multiple inlet ports distributed at different depths within the storage vessel. This segmentation allows the system to draw input composition from multiple locations simultaneously, reducing the flow rate requirement at each individual port and consequently lowering the pressure build-up at any single inlet point while still maintaining sufficient overall flow to prevent filter clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point inlet (zero-dimensional) to a distributed multi-depth inlet system (one-dimensional spatial distribution). By positioning inlet ports at different vertical depths within the storage vessel, the system accesses composition from multiple spatial locations, reducing concentration gradients and enabling lower flow rates without compromising filtration effectiveness.
2Productivity
If large biomolecules are processed at large scale, then production capacity increases, but viscosity of input composition increases causing high pressure build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the input composition withdrawal into multiple parallel flow paths through distributed inlet ports. This allows large-scale processing of viscous biomolecule compositions by dividing the total flow requirement across multiple lower-flow-rate channels, reducing the pressure build-up that would occur with a single high-flow-rate inlet while maintaining overall high productivity.
3Quantity of substance
If biomolecules are stored in storage tanks, then storage is enabled, but concentration gradients form causing inconsistent viscosity and pressure problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the composition sampling across multiple vertical depths within the storage vessel. By drawing input composition from inlet ports positioned at different heights, the system simultaneously accesses composition from various concentration zones, effectively averaging out concentration gradients and providing consistent viscosity and flow characteristics without requiring complete mixing of the entire stored volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed inlet ports act as intermediaries between the storage vessel and the filtration system. These multiple access points sample composition from different depths, serving as intermediate sampling locations that represent the overall composition more accurately than a single bottom or top inlet, thereby compensating for concentration gradients without requiring active mixing.
4Reliability
If high flow rates are used to sweep away larger molecules, then filter clogging is prevented, but processing time increases due to pressure limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filtration input into multiple parallel streams through distributed inlet ports. This allows the system to maintain sufficient total flow rate to prevent filter clogging while operating at lower individual port flow rates that avoid excessive pressure build-up, thereby enabling continuous processing without time losses from pressure-related interruptions or pump failures.
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 effectively reduces filter clogging, increases permeate flow rates by 5-50%, and maintains consistent processing times by minimizing pressure build-up and concentration gradients, ensuring aseptic conditions for viscous compositions.
Implementation Method 1
Tangential flow filtration (TFF) is filtration where an input composition being filtered flows continuously along-side the filter (known as a 'filter membrane')
Implementation Method 2
Anything that crosses (permeates) the filter membrane is known as the 'permeate'
Implementation Method 3
The recirculation system can comprise a recirculation tube inlet extending through the storage vessel cap into the interior of the storage vessel to a depth selected to draw the input composition from a bottom portion of the storage vessel
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, methods, systems, etc., for the tangential flow filtration (TFF) of viscous compositions including viscous fluids, solutions, gels, pastes, creams and suspensions with viscosities greater than 10 cP, 20 cP, 50 cP or 100 cP. The methods, etc., provide enhanced mixing of the viscous compositions in their storage vessels by extracting the input composition from different depths in the storage vessels to reduce or eliminate vertical concentration gradients.