Centrifugal separation system and method with flow control to a heavy phase receiving container

A method of controlling a centrifugal separation system, the centrifugal separation system comprising a centrifugal separator, a liquid feed mixture conduit, a light phase conduit, a heavy phase conduit, and a flow control system,

• wherein the centrifugal separator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and being provided with a separation space, a stack of separation discs arranged inside the separation space, a first stationary portion arranged at a first axial end of the rotor, a second stationary portion arranged at the second axial end of the rotor,
• wherein an inlet passage extends into the separation space via the first or second stationary portion, a light phase outlet passage extends from the separation space via the first or second stationary portion, and a heavy phase outlet passage extends from the separation space via the first or second stationary portion,
• wherein the heavy phase outlet passage comprises at least one channel extending within the rotor from a radially outer portion of the separation space towards a central portion of the rotor,
• wherein each of the inlet passage, the light phase outlet passage, and the heavy phase outlet passage is mechanically hermetically sealed between the rotor and respective of the first and second stationary portions,
• wherein the inlet passage enters the rotor centrally on the axis of rotation at R0, the heavy phase outlet passage exits the rotor at a first radius R1, and the light phase outlet passage exits the rotor at a second radius R2, wherein R2≥R1≥R0 and R2>R0,
• wherein the flow control system comprises a flow control valve arranged in the light phase conduit, a liquid feed mixture measuring device, and a light phase measuring device and/or a heavy phase measuring device,
• wherein the method comprises steps of:
• rotating the rotor;
• conducting a flow of liquid feed mixture into the separation space via the liquid feed mixture conduit and the inlet passage;
• separating the liquid feed mixture into a heavy phase and a light phase in the separation space;
• measuring the flow of liquid feed mixture;
• measuring a flow of light phase and/or a flow of heavy phase;
• controlling the flow control valve based on measurements acquired in the step of measuring the flow of liquid feed mixture and measurements acquired in the step of measuring the flow of light phase and/or the flow of heavy phase;
• and
• removing the heavy phase through the heavy phase conduit extending to a heavy phase receiving container,
• wherein the heavy phase conduit forms an unrestricted passage from the centrifugal separator to the heavy phase receiving container when a flow of heavy phase exits from the heavy phase outlet passage to the heavy phase receiving container,
• wherein the step of conducting the flow of liquid feed mixture into the separation space comprises the step of:
• conducting the flow of liquid feed mixture comprising a cell culture mixture to flow the cell culture mixture into the separation space,
• wherein the inlet passage enters a first side of the rotor parallel and centrally on the axis of rotation, and the light phase outlet passage enters the first side of the rotor parallel and offset from the axis of rotation and being separated from the inlet passage, and
• wherein the heavy phase outlet passage enters a second side opposite the first side of the rotor parallel and centrally on the axis of rotation.