System using a levitating, rotating pumping or mixing element and related methods

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel for holding the fluid;
• a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel;
• at least one superconducting element positioned adjacent to the vessel for levitating the pumping or mixing element;
• a cryostat including a chamber thermally isolating and/or separating the superconducting element from the vessel and a cooling source thermally linked to said superconducting element;
• a motive device for rotating said cryostat, including said cooling source and superconducting element.

A method of levitating and rotating a magnetic element in a vessel having a cavity, such as for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• placing the magnetic element in a vessel concentric with the cavity;
• levitating the magnetic element above a superconducting element maintained in a superconducting state in accordance with a field cooling protocol and held in an evacuated or insulated chamber positioned adjacent to the cavity in the vessel;
• and
• rotating the magnetic element.

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel for holding the fluid;
• a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel;
• at least one superconducting element positioned adjacent to the vessel for levitating the pumping or mixing element;
• a cryostat having a wall defining a chamber around the superconducting element, said chamber thermally isolating and/or separating the superconducting element from the vessel, and a cooling source thermally linked to said superconducting element;
• and
• a motive device for rotating said cryostat.

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel for holding the fluid, said vessel having a cavity formed therein;
• a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel at a position concentric with the cavity;
• at least one superconducting element positioned in or adjacent to the cavity for levitating the pumping or mixing element relative to the vessel;
• a wall defining a chamber around the superconducting element, said chamber thermally isolating and/or separating the superconducting element from the vessel;
• a cooling source thermally linked to said superconducting element,
• a motive device for rotating said pumping or mixing element or said superconducting element and said pumping or mixing element, and
• means for assisting in maintaining a proper position of the levitating pumping or mixing element relative to the cavity.

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel for holding the fluid, said vessel having a cavity formed in at least one side thereof;
• a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel at a position concentric with the cavity and including at least one levitation magnet structure;
• at least one superconducting element positioned in or adjacent to the cavity for levitating the pumping or mixing element;
• a wall defining a chamber around the superconducting element, said chamber thermally isolating and/or separating the superconducting element from the vessel;
• a cooling source thermally linked to said superconducting element,
• a motive device for rotating either said pumping or mixing element alone or said superconducting element and said pumping or mixing element;
• a first magnetic levitation-assist structure positioned on the pumping or mixing element;
• and
• a second magnetic structure positioned in, inside or on one of the wall defining the chamber around the superconducting element or in, inside, or on the vessel in juxtaposition to the first magnetic levitation-assist structure, wherein the adjacent ends of the first and second magnetic structures have like polarities.

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel for holding the fluid, said vessel having a cavity formed in at least one side thereof;
• a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel at a position concentric with the cavity and including first and second arrays of alternating polarity levitation magnets;
• at least two spaced arrays of superconducting elements positioned in or adjacent to the cavity in juxtaposition to the first and second arrays of alternating polarity levitation magnets;
• a wall defining a chamber around the superconducting element, said chamber being evacuated or insulated to thermally isolate and/or separate the superconducting elements from the vessel;
• a cooling source thermally linked to said superconducting element, and
• a motive device for rotating said pumping or mixing element or said superconducting element.

A method of pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• positioning a pumping or mixing element in a vessel;
• levitating the pumping or mixing element using a superconducting element positioned in an evacuated or insulated chamber adjacent to the vessel;
• rotating the pumping or mixing element;
• and
• using a plurality of assist magnets to separately or simultaneously attract or repel the pumping or mixing element to maintain a proper position relative to the vessel.

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid in a vessel capable of holding the fluid, said vessel having a cavity, using a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel concentric with the cavity, comprising:

• a cryostat including a cooling source thermally linked to a superconducting element and capable of selectively holding the superconducting element below a transition temperature and a chamber that is evacuated or insulated to thermally isolate and/or separate the superconducting element from the vessel, wherein said cryostat is positioned in said cavity but external to the vessel;
• a first motive device for rotating said cryostat, including said cooling source and superconducting element;
• and
• a second motive device for moving the cryostat and hence the superconducting element therein relative to the cavity.

A system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a vessel for holding the fluid having a cavity, said vessel including a tapered or frusto-conical engagement surface;
• a magnetic pumping or mixing element positioned in the vessel concentric with the cavity and having a surface matching the engagement surface;
• a device for levitating the pumping or mixing element in the vessel such that the matching surface is separated from the engagement surface;
• a device for rotating the pumping or mixing element once levitated.

A method for levitating a magnetic pumping or mixing element in a vessel for holding a fluid having at least one cavity formed therein, with the pumping or mixing element being generally concentric with the cavity and initially in a non-levitated or resting position, comprising:

• positioning a superconducting element at a first position in the cavity, but external to the vessel, in alignment with the magnetic pumping or mixing element in the vessel;
• cooling the superconducting element to below a transition temperature to form a magnetic coupling with the magnetic pumping or mixing element;
• and
• moving the superconducting element to a second position in the cavity to induce levitation in the pumping or mixing element.

A system fopumping or mixing a fluid by levitating and rotating a magnetic impeller or rotor in a vessel, comprising:

• at least one superconducting element capable of levitating the magnetic impeller or rotor;
• and
• a cryostat for receiving and thermally isolating the superconducting element, the cryostat including a portable cryocooler for cooling the superconducting element to at least a transition temperature,
• whereby the pumping or mixing element may be levitated in the vessel in a non-contact fashion.

An assembly for use in pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:

• a flexible bag for holding the fluid under sterile conditions and having a cavity formed in at least one side thereof;
• and
• a pumping or mixing element positioned in the bag adjacent the cavity and rotatable about its central axis,
• wherein the cavity includes a surface for contacting the pumping or mixing element in at least a resting position.