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US 6,544,424 B1Granted
Fluid filtration system
AssigneeRefined Technology Company
InventorJerry Shevitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filtration systems for fluids, particularly biological fluids. The filtration system includes a filter containing compartment connected at one end to a storage vessel and at the other end to a diaphragm pump. The filter comprises a hollow fiber module or a screen filter. The vessel serves as a storage container for a process stream to be filtered. The diaphragm pump provides the means for generating rapid, alternating, low shear tangential flow between the vessel and pump and through the hollow fibers or screen filter. The system allows easy removal of wastes from the fluid and the addition of fresh fluid to replenish the filtered fluid.
Claims31
A fluid filtration system comprising:
- a) at least one fluid storage vessel;
- b) at least one filter containing compartment;
- c) a fluid connector attached to the storage vessel and to an entrance end of the filter containing compartment, which connector is capable of directing a fluid from the storage vessel into the entrance end of the filter containing compartment;
- d) at least one diaphragm pump connected at a retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- which diaphragm pump is capable of alternately receiving fluid from the retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment and arranged for then expelling the fluid back into the retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- and
- e) at least one fluid harvest port connected to the filter containing compartment for removing filtered fluid from the filter containing compartment.
4 more elements
A process for filtering a fluid comprising:
- a) providing a fluid filtration system comprising at least one fluid storage vessel;
- at least one filter containing compartment;
- a fluid connector attached to the storage vessel and to an entrance end of the filter containing compartment, which connector is capable of directing a fluid from the storage vessel into the entrance end of the filter containing compartment;
- at least one diaphragm pump connected at an exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- which diaphragm pump is capable of alternately receiving fluid from the exit end of the filter containing compartment and then expelling the fluid back into the exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- and at least one fluid harvest port connected to the filter containing compartment for removing filtered fluid from the filter containing compartment;
- b) filtering a fluid by causing the fluid to flow from the storage vessel through the filter containing compartment and then to the diaphragm pump;
- c) re-filtering the fluid by causing at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the diaphragm pump through the filter containing compartment and then the storage vessel;
- d) optionally repeating steps b and c;
- and
- e) removing the filtered fluid from the filtration system.
8 more elements
A process for sterilizing a fluid filtration system comprising:
- a) providing a fluid filtration system comprising at least one fluid storage vessel;
- at least one filter containing compartment;
- a fluid connector attached to the storage vessel and to an entrance end of the filter containing compartment, which connector is capable of directing a fluid from the storage vessel into the entrance end of the filter containing compartment;
- at least one diaphragm pump connected at an exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- which diaphragm pump is capable of alternately receiving fluid from the exit end of the filter containing compartment and then expelling the fluid back into the exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- and at least one fluid harvest port connected to the filter containing compartment for removing filtered fluid from the filter containing compartment;
- b) injecting steam into at least a portion of the fluid filtration system via at least one steam inlet;
- and
- c) removing the steam from the fluid filtration system via at least one steam outlet.
6 more elements
A fluid filtration system comprising:
- a) at least one fluid storage vessel;
- b) at least one filter containing compartment;
- c) a fluid connector attached at one end thereof to the storage vessel by a valve, and attached at another end thereof to an entrance end of the filter containing compartment by a valve, which connector is capable of directing a fluid from the storage vessel into the entrance end of the filter containing compartment;
- said fluid connector having a steam injection port and a condensate outlet;
- d) at least one diaphragm pump connected at an exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- which diaphragm pump is capable of alternately receiving fluid from the exit end of the filter containing compartment and expelling the fluid back into the exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- said diaphragm pump having a pump housing comprising a first and a second chamber separated by a diaphragm;
- the first chamber of the diaphragm pump being connected to a gas port capable of alternately injecting a gas into and out of the first chamber;
- the second chamber being in fluid flow cooperation with the exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- a controller for controlling the movement of the diaphragm within the pump housing;
- a fluid sampling port attached through a wall of the second chamber;
- e) at least one fluid harvest port connected to the filter containing compartment for removing filtered fluid from the filter containing compartment, said harvest port being connected via a fluid flow line to a fluid pump;
- first and second fluid control valves attached in series between the harvest port and the fluid pump;
- a steam injection port and a condensate outlet attached to the fluid flow line between the steam injection port and a condensate outlet;
- f) a pressure dampener attached through a wall of the filter containing compartment;
- g) wherein the filter which comprises a plurality of bundled hollow fibers whose axes extend longitudinally from the entrance end to the exit end of the filter containing compartment.
13 more elements
A fluid filtration system comprising:
- at least one filter containing compartment;
- a fluid connector attached to an entrance end of the filter containing compartment, which connector is capable of directing a fluid from a vessel into the entrance end of the filter containing compartment;
- at least one diaphragm pump connected at a retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- which diaphragm pump is capable of alternately receiving fluid from the retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment and arranged for then expelling the fluid back into the retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- and
- at least one fluid harvest port connected to the filter containing compartment for removing filtered fluid from the filter containing compartment.
3 more elements
A process for filtering a fluid comprising:
- a) providing a fluid filtration system comprising at least one filter containing compartment;
- a fluid connector attached to an entrance end of the filter containing compartment, which connector is capable of directing a fluid from a vessel into the entrance end of the filter containing compartment;
- at least one diaphragm pump connected at a retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- which diaphragm pump is capable of alternately receiving fluid from the retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment and then expelling the fluid back into the retentate exit end of the filter containing compartment;
- and at least one fluid harvest port connected to the filter containing compartment for removing filtered fluid from the filter containing compartment;
- b) filtering a fluid by causing fluid to flow from the vessel through the filter containing compartment and then to the diaphragm pump;
- c) causing at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the diaphragm pump through the filter containing compartment;
- d) optionally repeating steps b and c;
- and
- e) removing the filtered fluid from the filtration system.
7 more elements
A fluid filtration system comprising:
- a compartment configured to contain a filter, the compartment comprising a retentate-side inlet and a retentate-side outlet;
- a pump connected in fluid communication with the retentate-side outlet;
- a pump control system configured to operate the pump so that it alternately receives fluid from the retentate-side outlet and expels at least a portion of the fluid back into the retentate-side outlet.
A process for filtering comprising:
- supplying a fluid to a compartment containing a filter
- causing at least a portion of the fluid to flow through a retentate side of the compartment to a pump in fluid communication with a retentate-side outlet of the compartment;
- causing at least a portion of the fluid flowed to the pump to flow from the pump back to the retentate-side outlet and through the filter containing compartment;
- and
- passing at least a portion of the fluid through the filter to form a filtered permeate.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.