Heat exchanger system with flexible bag
AssigneeLife Technologies Corporation
InventorsClinton C. Staheli, Nephi D. Jones, Michael E. Goodwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger system includes a heat exchanger having a body plate with a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body plate bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, and a first side plate having an inside face. A flexible first bag includes of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first bag being removably retained between the body plate and the first side plate so that at least a portion of the first bag rests against the first side face of the body plate when the fluid pathway of the first bag is filled with a fluid.
Claims23
A heat exchanger system comprising:
- a heat exchanger comprising:
- a body plate having a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body plate bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a first side plate having an inside face;
- and
- a flexible first bag comprised of one or more sheet of polymeric material, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first bag being removably retained between the body plate and the first side plate so that at least a portion of the first bag rests against the first side face of the body plate when the fluid pathway of the first bag is filled with a fluid, the fluid channel of the body plate being sealed from fluid communication with the fluid pathway of the first bag.
A system for mixing a liquid solution or suspension comprising:
- a container bounding a chamber and having an upper end and an opposing lower end, the chamber being adapted to hold a fluid;
- a heat exchanger comprising:
- a body plate having a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body plate bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a first side plate having an inside face;
- a fluid source coupled with the inlet port and the outlet port of the fluid channel of the body plate, the fluid source being configured to pump fluid through the fluid channel and to regulate the temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid channel;
- a flexible first bag comprised of one or more sheet of polymeric material, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first bag being removably retained between the body plate and the first side plate of the heat exchanger, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the first bag each being fluid coupled with the container.
A method for using a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- placing a first bag between a body plate and a first side plate of a heat exchanger, the first bag bounding a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet that are both coupled to a container;
- passing a fluid that comprises at least some liquid from the container, through the fluid pathway of the first bag and then back into the container, the first bag resting against the first body plate as the fluid is passing therethrough;
- and
- pumping a liquid through a fluid channel disposed within the body plate of the heat exchanger so that there is a heat transfer between the liquid passing through the body plate and the fluid passing through the first bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.