A method for use in cleaning a processing system and a processing system
AssigneeGEA Liquid Technologies A/S
InventorNils Mørk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for use in cleaning a cross-flow processing system. The processing system comprising a feed pump for feeding a fluid to a baseline of the processing system, and at least one filtration unit. The at least one filtration unit comprising a filtration membrane and a retentate outlet fluidly connected to the baseline for guiding retentate of the at least one filtration unit to the baseline. The processing system further comprising a loop pump for feeding the fluid in a predetermined flow direction to the at least one filtration unit. The loop pump being fluidly connected to the baseline and the at least one filtration unit so that a loop is formed comprising the loop pump, the at least one filtration unit, and the retentate outlet.
Claims15
A method for use in cleaning a cross-flow processing system, the processing system comprising a feed pump for feeding a fluid to a baseline of the processing system, at least one filtration unit, the at least one filtration unit comprising a filtration membrane and a retentate outlet fluidly connected to the baseline for guiding retentate of the at least one filtration unit to the baseline, wherein the processing system further comprises a loop pump for feeding the fluid in a predetermined flow direction to the at least one filtration unit, the loop pump being fluidly connected to the baseline and the at least one filtration unit so that a loop is formed comprising the loop pump, the at least one filtration unit, and the retentate outlet, the method comprising:
- during a first time interval during a cleaning-in-place, CIP, process of the processing system, applying, by the loop pump, the fluid to the at least one filtration unit at a first fluid flow rate over the filtration membrane, and
- during a second time interval during the CIP process of the processing system, applying, by the loop pump, the fluid to the at least one filtration unit at a second fluid flow rate over the filtration membrane,
- wherein the second fluid flow rate is different from the first fluid flow rate.
(canceled)
A cross-flow filtration processing system comprising a feed pump for feeding a fluid to a baseline of the processing system, at least one filtration unit comprising a filtration membrane and a retentate outlet fluidly connected to the baseline for guiding retentate of the at least one filtration unit to the baseline, wherein the processing system further comprises a loop pump for feeding the fluid in a predetermined flow direction to the at least one filtration unit, the loop pump being fluidly connected to the baseline and the at least one filtration unit so that a loop is formed comprising the loop pump, the at least one filtration unit, and the retentate outlet, wherein the processing system further comprises a control device configured to control a setting of the loop pump of the cross-flow filtration processing system, the control device comprising one or more outputs configured to be in operational connection with a respective loop pump and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to:
- during a first time interval during a cleaning-in-place, CIP, process of the cross-flow filtration processing system, applying, by the loop pump, the fluid to the at least one filtration unit at a first fluid flow rate over the filtration membrane, and
- during a second time interval during the CIP process of the processing system, applying, by the loop pump, the fluid to the at least one filtration unit at a second fluid flow rate over the filtration membrane,
- wherein the second fluid flow rate is different from the first fluid flow rate.
A computer program product comprising program code means adapted to cause a data processing system to, when said program code means are executed on the data processing system:
- during a first time interval during a cleaning-in-place, CIP, process of the cross-flow filtration processing system, applying, by the loop pump, the fluid to the at least one filtration unit at a first fluid flow rate over the filtration membrane, and
- during a second time interval during the CIP process of the processing system, applying, by the loop pump, the fluid to the at least one filtration unit at a second fluid flow rate over the filtration membrane,
- wherein the second fluid flow rate is different from the first fluid flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.