Particle settling devices

Inventors

KOMPALA, Dhinakar S.

Assignees

Sudhin Biopharma Co

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to settling devices for separating particles from a bulk fluid with applications in numerous fields. The particle settling devices of the present disclosure may include a stack of truncoconical cones that may be arranged in opposite orientation, apex to base. Other embodiments include several concentric vertical tubes attached to conical surfaces at the bottom, with inclined settling strips attached to the vertical tubes in annular regions between the tubes. These devices are useful for separating small (millimeter or micron sized) particles from a bulk fluid with applications in numerous fields, such as biological (microbial, mammalian, plant, insect or algal) cell cultures, solid catalyst particle separation from a liquid or gas and waste water treatment.

Core Innovation

The document describes a particle settling device that includes a cyclone housing having a first conical portion, a second conical portion, and a cylindrical portion located between the first and second conical portions. The device includes at least one inlet for introducing liquids into the cyclone housing, a first outlet port in the first conical portion for harvesting a clarified liquid, and a second outlet port in the second conical portion for harvesting a concentrated liquid. The document further includes a sensor to measure dissolved CO2 (pCO2) within the cyclone housing, with the sensor positioned in one of the second conical portion and a line interconnected to the second outlet port.

Within the cyclone housing, the document positions a first stack of cones located within the cyclone housing and occupying the first conical portion and at least part of the cylindrical portion. Each cone of the first stack of cones includes a truncated apex and an open base, with the truncated apex oriented toward one of the first outlet port and the second outlet port. The truncated apex of each cone defines a substantially central opening, creating a structured internal flow geometry for the cyclone housing and particle settling.

The document also describes a method of settling particles in a suspension by introducing a liquid suspension of particles into the particle settling device, collecting clarified liquid from a first port, and collecting concentrated liquid suspension from a second port. A sensor measures dissolved CO2 (pCO2) within the cyclone housing with the sensor positioned in one of the second conical portion and a line interconnected to the second port. The method is implemented using the cyclone housing including the first stack of cones with truncated apexes and open bases defining substantially central openings.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims: one to a particle settling device and one to a method of settling particles. The inventive coverage centers on cyclone housing with dual conical portions and a cylindrical portion, separate clarified and concentrated liquid outlet ports, internal stacks of truncated apex/open-base cones defining substantially central openings, and integration of a pCO2 sensor positioned in the second conical portion with interconnection to the second outlet/port line.

Across both independent claims, the core coverage is the combination of a cyclone housing having first and second conical portions plus a cylindrical portion, separate clarified and concentrated outlet ports/ports, a first stack of cones with truncated apexes and open bases forming substantially central openings, and integration of a dissolved CO2 (pCO2) sensor positioned in the second conical portion and interconnected to the concentrated outlet/port line.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found