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EP-4275009-B1 - PROCESS COOLING ROD

EP4275009B1EP 4275009 B1EP4275009 B1EP 4275009B1EP-4275009-B1

Inventors

  • BALLEW, CHRIS
  • SHOR, RICHARD

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220107

Claims (15)

  1. A device comprising a process vessel (60) adapted for holding fluid, and a fluid process heat exchange rod (20) for heating or cooling fluid in the process vessel (60), the process vessel (60) having an upper wall (62), wherein the heat exchange rod (20) is mounted to the upper wall (62) of the process vessel (60), and wherein the heat exchange rod (20) comprises: an elongated outer jacket (22) extending along an axis defining a closed distal end and an open proximal end, an inner cavity defined within the outer jacket (22); a manifold (26) attached to the proximal end of the outer jacket (22), the manifold (26) having two connectors (28, 30) providing fluid communication with the inner cavity, a first connector (28) being offset from a centerline through the manifold (26) and a second connector (30) being located along the centerline and aligned with the outer jacket axis; and an elongated flow diverter (32) positioned within the inner cavity, the flow diverter (32) extending from the manifold (26) to a point spaced from the closed distal end such that a distal space is formed in the inner cavity between the flow diverter (32) and the closed distal end, the flow diverter (32) having a central inner bore (42) extending the length of the flow diverter (32) and being in fluid communication with the second connector (30) to fluidly connect the second connector (30) and the distal space, the flow diverter (32) also having an outer surface defined by two parallel helical flutes (36) that extending the length of the flow diverter (32) and having an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the outer jacket (22) so as to be in contact therewith, the helical flutes (36) defining two parallel helical grooves (38) spaced inward from the inner diameter of the outer jacket (22) that forms two parallel flow passages (40) between the flow diverter (32) and the outer jacket (22) fluidly connecting the first connector (28) and the distal space; wherein the closed distal end of the outer jacket (22) extends downward toward a bottom of a main portion (61) of the process vessel (60) so as to be submerged in fluid within the process vessel (60), wherein the outer jacket (22) of the heat exchange rod (20) has a length sufficient such that the closed distal end is in close proximity with a lower floor (70) of the vessel (60), and wherein the heat exchange rod (20) is configured such that fluid flowing into the second connector (30) passes distally through the inner bore (42) to the distal space, and returns proximally from the distal space through the flow passages (40) to the first connector (28), and fluid flowing into the first connector (28) passes distally through the flow passages (40) to the distal space, and returns proximally from the distal space through the inner bore (42) to the second connector (30), the fluid flowing through the heat exchange rod (20) therefore being adapted to heat or cool fluid within the process vessel (60).
  2. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange rod (20) is made of a non-reactive metal.
  3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least the outer jacket (22) and the flow diverter (32) are injection molded of a polymer having a heat transfer coefficient of at least 0.50 W/mK at 23°C.
  4. The device of claim 2, wherein the non-reactive metal is Stainless Steel.
  5. The device of claim 3, wherein the polymer is a polypropylene base resin.
  6. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow diverter (32) is polycarbonate.
  7. The device of any previous claim, wherein the elongated outer jacket (22) is linear and tubular and the closed distal end is hemispherical.
  8. The device of claim 1, wherein the process vessel (60) is a flask having a large main portion (61) and an upwardly angled shoulder region that forms the upper wall (62), and the heat exchange rod (20) mounts through a hole (69) formed in the upper wall (62).
  9. The device of claim 8, wherein the heat exchange rod (20) detachably mounts through the hole (69) formed in the upper wall (62) using a tri-clamp assembly or a threaded connection.
  10. The device of claim 8, wherein the heat exchange rod (20) is secured to the upper wall (62) via adhesive or bonding/welding.
  11. The device of any previous claim, wherein the outer jacket (22) of the heat exchange rod (20) has a length sufficient to extend to within 2.54 cm (1 inch) of the lower floor (70) of the vessel (60).
  12. The device of any previous claim, wherein the process vessel (60) includes a mixer (130) with vanes (132) positioned just above the lower floor (70) of the vessel (60) and journaled to rotate about a vertical axis.
  13. The device of claim 12, wherein the mixer (130) incorporates magnets that face the lower floor (70) to enable rotation by an external magnetic drive.
  14. The device of any of claims 12-13, wherein the outer jacket (22) of the heat exchange rod (20) has a length sufficient to extend to within 2.54 cm (1 inch) of the lower floor (70) of the vessel (60) and adjacent the mixer (130).
  15. The device of any previous claim, wherein the helical flutes (36) have flat outer lands that define the outer diameter of the flow diverter (32) and contact an inner wall of the outer jacket (22).

Description

BACKGROUND Field This disclosure relates to a heat exchange element for chemical and biological processes. Description of the Related Art Various chemical and biological processes in lab settings generate heat. For example, constant filtration of a process medium can quickly raise the temperature of the medium leading to deleterious outcomes, especially for fragile biological cells grown in media. A standard technique for reducing the temperature of process contents is to place the reactor or container within an ice bath. However, this introduces a number of challenges, not the least of which is accurately and consistently regulating the amount of cooling. Processes also sometimes require the addition of heat in regulated amounts. US-A-2014363146 discloses a conventional screw-in heat exchanging element for water heaters. There remains a need for a rapid heat exchange solution for chemical and biological processes that accurately and consistently regulates the amount of cooling or heating. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device as defined in claim 1 hereinafter. The present application discloses a process cooling element in the shape of a rod is described which can be inserted into a bioreactor or other reactor vessel to regulate the temperature. A method of use of the process cooling element includes immersing the rod into a liquid within a process vessel, the rod extending to at least 2.54 cm (1 inch) of the floor of the vessel to enable heat transfer with even small amount of liquid in the vessel. A manifold that projects out of the vessel has a fluid inlet connector and a fluid outlet connector. The cooling element includes an outer jacket and an inner flow diverter that extends from the manifold to a closed distal end of the outer jacket. The flow diverter has a central through bore and one or more outer helical flutes that contact an inner wall of the jacket and define one or more helical flow passages the length of the flow diverter. The method includes flowing cooling fluid into the inlet connector which travels down through the central bore and then up through the helical flow passage(s) to the outlet connector. The flow may be reversed so that the inlet becomes the outlet. The outer jacket and flow diverter are desirably formed of a polymer, sometimes transparent, with a high coefficient of heat transfer; which may be greater than 0.50 W/mK @23C or even greater than 0.90 W/mK @23C. A first embodiment of a device disclosed herein comprises a fluid process heat exchange rod for heating or cooling fluid in a process vessel. The first embodiment has an elongated polymer outer jacket extending along an axis defining a closed distal end and an open proximal end, an inner cavity defined within the outer jacket. A manifold attaches to the proximal end of the outer jacket and has two connectors providing fluid communication with the inner cavity; a first connector being offset from a centerline through the manifold and a second connector being located along the centerline and aligned with the outer jacket axis. An elongated polymer flow diverter is positioned within the inner cavity. The flow diverter extends from the manifold to a point spaced from the closed distal end such that a distal space is formed in the inner cavity between the flow diverter and the closed distal end. The flow diverter has a central inner bore extending the length of the flow diverter and being in fluid communication with the second connector to fluidly connect the second connector and the distal space. The flow diverter also has an outer surface defined by at least one helical flute extending the length of the flow diverter and having an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the outer jacket so as to be in contact therewith. The at least one helical flute defines at least one helical groove spaced inward from the inner diameter of the outer jacket that forms at least one helical flow passage between the flow diverter and the outer jacket fluidly connecting the first connector and the distal space. The heat exchange rod is configured such that fluid flowing into the second connector passes distally through the inner bore to the distal space, and returns proximally from the distal space through the at least one helical flow passage to the first connector, and fluid flowing into the first connector passes distally through the at least one helical flow passage to the distal space, and returns proximally from the distal space through the inner bore to the second connector. The fluid flowing through the heat exchange rod is therefore adapted to heat or cool fluid within the process vessel. Further, according to the invention there are two parallel helical flutes formed in the flow diverter that define two parallel helical grooves. The elongated jacket may be linear and tubular and the closed distal end hemispherical. A second embodiment of a device disc