Separation apparatus and use thereof

A separating apparatus for separation of suspended cells from a cell suspension (1), comprising:

• a sedimentation settler (2) having a plurality of channels;
• and
• a collection vessel (3) disposed underneath and being in fluid communication with the sedimentation settler (2), the collection vessel (3) forming a receiving chamber (4) having an outlet (5) at or adjacent to the chamber bottom and having an inflow inlet opening (6) above the outlet (5),
• wherein the wall (41) of the receiving chamber (4), extending from the outlet (5) to the inflow inlet opening (6), is curved such that the horizontal cross-sectional area decreases towards the bottom thereof,
• wherein the inflow inlet opening (6) is located at the same vertical height level of the separating apparatus (1) as the lower edge (22) of the sedimentation settler (2) or below the lower edge (22) of the sedimentation settler (2),
• wherein the collection vessel (3) is arranged such that the flow direction of the fluid inflow in the receiving chamber (4) is substantially in line with the direction of the channels of the sedimentation settler (2) after passing the inlet opening (6),
• wherein the collection vessel comprises a baffle plate located at or in proximity to the inlet opening and extending down into the collection vessel a distance less than half the depth of the collection vessel, said baffle plate for downwardly deflecting an inflow of fluid after passing the inlet opening, wherein the baffle plate is arranged inclined relative to a first imaginary vertical plane (V1) being perpendicular to a second imaginary vertical plane (V2) comprising the inflow direction axis through the inlet opening, and
• wherein the separating apparatus is sterilizable.