System for switching over the exhaust air of a bioreactor
A system ( 1 ) is provided for switching over exhaust air of a bioreactor ( 2 ) that has a disposable container ( 3 ). The system ( 1 ) has at least two exhaust air ducts ( 4, 5 ) connecting the disposable container ( 3 ) to exhaust air filters ( 6, 7, 18, 18 ′). A valve ( 8 ) is disposed in at least one of the at least two exhaust air ducts ( 4, 5 ) and enables the associated exhaust air filter ( 6, 7, 18, 18 ′) to be freed.
1. A system ( 1 ) for switching over exhaust air of a bioreactor ( 2 ), the bioreactor ( 2 ) having a disposable container ( 3 ), the system ( 1 ) comprising:
an air supply duct ( 14 ) extending into the disposable container ( 3 ),
at least first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ) extending from the disposable container ( 3 ),
at least first and second exhaust air filters ( 6 , 7 , 18 , 18 ′) communicating respectively with the first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ),
at least one exhaust air pressure sensor ( 9 ) communicating with at least one of the exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ),
an air supply pressure sensor ( 9 ) communicating with the air supply duct ( 14 )
a valve ( 8 ) mounted to the second exhaust air duct ( 5 ) and being operative for selectively permitting or blocking communication to the associated second exhaust air filter ( 7 , 18 , 18 ′), and
a regulating and control unit ( 10 ) connected to the valve ( 8 ), to the at least one exhaust air pressure sensor ( 9 ) and to the air supply pressure sensor ( 9 ), the regulating and control unit ( 10 ) being operative to open the valve ( 8 ) to permit communication to the second exhaust air filter ( 7 ) when the at least one exhaust air pressure sensor ( 9 ) and the air supply pressure sensor ( 9 ) sense a pressure indicative of a blockage of the first exhaust air filter ( 6 ).
2. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ) are connected separately to the disposable container ( 3 ).
3. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ) are connected to the disposable container ( 3 ) by a distributor piece ( 15 , 16 ).
4. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least a third exhaust air duct ( 13 ) connected to the disposable container ( 3 ) and having a free end that is closed by a first part ( 20 ) of a two-part sterile connector ( 19 ), and
a third exhaust air filter ( 18 ) connected to a connecting line ( 21 ) that is connected to a second part ( 22 ) of the two-part sterile connector ( 19 ), wherein the disposable container ( 3 ) is placed in communication with the third exhaust air filter ( 18 ) when the at least one exhaust air pressure sensor ( 9 ) and the air supply pressure sensor ( 9 ) senses a pressure indicative of a blockage of the first and second exhaust air filters ( 6 , 7 ).
5. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one exhaust air pressure sensor ( 9 ) comprises first and second pressure sensors ( 9 ) in the first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 , 13 ) respectively.
6. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein
the regulating and control unit ( 10 ) is connected by control lines ( 12 ) to the valve ( 8 ).
7. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein
the regulating and control unit ( 10 ) is connected by sensor lines ( 11 ) to the at least one exhaust air sensor ( 9 ) and to the air supply pressure sensor ( 9 ).
8. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve ( 8 ) is disposed upstream of the second exhaust air filters ( 7 ).
9. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an exhaust air cooler ( 17 ) between the disposable container ( 3 ) and the exhaust air filter ( 6 , 7 ).
10. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve ( 8 ) is a pinch valve ( 8 ) that is selectively movable between the first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ).
11. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a replacement exhaust air filter ( 18 ′) configured to be incorporated into the first exhaust air duct ( 4 ) after the first exhaust air filter ( 6 ) has been determined to be blocked, wherein, after the first exhaust air filter ( 6 ) has been determined to be blocked: the replacement filter ( 18 ′) is placed in communication with the disposable container ( 3 ), the pinch valve ( 8 ) is moved from the second exhaust air duct ( 5 ) to the first exhaust air duct ( 4 ) and is closed, and the pinch valve ( 4 ) is opened after the at least one pressure sensor ( 9 ) senses a pressure indicative of a blockage of the second exhaust air filter ( 7 ).
12. The system for switching over the exhaust air according to claim 4 , wherein
the valve ( 8 ) is a pinch valve ( 8 ) that is configured to be selectively connected to and removed from the first and second exhaust air ducts ( 4 , 5 ) and selectively connected to and removed from the connecting line ( 21 ), wherein the pinch valve ( 8 ) is removed from the second exhaust air duct ( 5 ), engaged between the replacement filter ( 18 ′) and the two-part sterile connector ( 19 ) and closed when the second exhaust air filter ( 7 ) is not blocked and is opened to permit flow through the connecting line ( 21 ) when the at least one pressure sensor ( 9 ) detects a blockage of the second exhaust air filter ( 7 ).