Device and method for compensating short-term pressure or volume fluctuations of a medium in a continuous biopharmaceutical process

A method of compensating short-term pressure or volume fluctuations of a medium in a continuously managed biopharmaceutical process, using a device with a receiving space in fluid communication with a process line through which a medium flows for temporarily storing an excess amount of the medium flowing into the receiving space, an equalizing space which is separated from the receiving space by a deflectable element, and a counter-pressure device arranged in the equalizing space for applying a counter-pressure to the deflectable element towards the receiving space, wherein all media-contacting components of the device are designed as disposable components, the method comprising steps of:

• providing the receiving space in fluid communication with the process line through which the medium flows;
• receiving, in an event of an excess pressure or an excess volume in the process line, the excess amount of the medium flowing into the receiving space;
• charging an energy storage device by the medium flowing into the receiving space;
• and
• expelling at least part of the received excess amount of the medium out of the receiving space in the event that a pressure falls below a set pressure range or a flow rate falls below a set flow rate range by conversion of energy stored in the energy storage device,
• wherein the energy storage device is additionally supplied with energy from outside, wherein an energy input is closed-loop controlled by a controller as a function of measured pressure or volume fluctuations.