Heat exchange – Structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-17
2001-03-06
Ford, John K. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Structural installation
C165S109100, C165S142000, C165S169000, C165SDIG003, C165SDIG003, C165S061000, C062S073000, C062S352000, C422S109000, C435S307100, C435S298100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196296
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to systems containing structures such as fins to aid in the transfer of heat into or out of a medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to heating and cooling structures which are suited for use in heat, cooling, thawing, and freezing biopharmaceutical products.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Typically, a container used to heat or cool a medium will have a heat exchange fluid circulated in tubes placed in or around the exterior of the container. In order to improve the transfer of heat to or from the medium to the heat exchange fluid, one or more extensions of the container or any structures in the container may be used to increase the surface area of the system that is in contact with the medium.
Ordinarily, fins will be attached by one end to a portion of the container or some other structure in the container, and the fins will conduct heat to or from that portion of the container. However, since a fin is typically attached to the container or an internal structure at only one point, all of the heat transferred to or from the fin to the container or an internal structure must enter or leave the fin through the one connection that the fin has with the rest of the system.
One configuration that has been used to solve this problem is to build a system in which one or more of the fins are rigidly attached to both the container and an internal structure within the container. This allows heat to be transferred to or from a fin through two portions of the fin, increasing the rate at which heat is put into or withdrawn from a medium placed in the container.
However, by rigidly attaching a fin between the container and a structure within the container, the structure within the container itself then becomes rigidly attached to the container. The rigid attachment of the structure inside the container can make cleaning and decontaminating the container more difficult. Additionally, it may be more difficult to manufacture the system because, for example, tighter tolerances may be required so that the fin can be attached to two surfaces within the container, and each fin may require two or more welded joints. Furthermore, it may be inconvenient, costly, or impossible for fins made of certain materials to be welded to a container.
What is needed is a system in which heat can be put into or withdrawn from a fin through more than one portion of the fin while the system is operating while enabling structures within the container to be removed to allow for cleaning and decontaminating of the system. Furthermore, what is needed is a system in which it is not required to physically connect or weld the fin to a portion of the container in order for heat to be transferred into or out of a portion of the fin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to have a system in which heat can be transferred into or out of a system through heat conduction pathways which are partially comprised of the medium being heated or cooled such that heat flows between different portions of the system by flowing through the medium.
It is an object of the present invention to have a system in which heat can be transferred into or out of a structure within the container (e.g. a fin) through more than one portion of the structure. (The term “fin” will be used generically to mean any heat exchange member of the system that extends into the medium, including but not limited to a coil, a flattened protrusion, a tube, or any other structure extending into the container. Where a particular type of extension of the container is being discussed, such as a coil, the name of the particular type of extension may be used to help clarify the configuration of the system.)
It is a further object of the present invention to have a system in which structures within the container can be removed to allow for cleaning and decontaminating of the system.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to have fins which contain passageways allowing cooling fluid to flow within the fins.
It is another object of the present invention to have fins which enhance the removal of heat from a medium but which are not rigidly attached to another portion of the system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to have fins which have non-uniform cross-sections to allow from more rapid removal of heat from a medium in the system.
It is still another object of the present invention to have a system that achieves controlled freezing rates for a medium such as a pharmaceutical product to aid in cryopreservation.
It is a yet another object of the present invention to have a system which encourages a controlled freezing process to promote dendritic ice growth to aid in the cryopreservation of mediums including but not limited to proteins, cells, blood, plasma, other biopharmaceutical products, or food products.
It is a further object of the present invention to have a system that can rapidly heat or cool a medium.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the use of a structure positioned in the container. A heat exchange member is at least partially coupled to an interior surface of the container wherein a distal end of the heat exchange member is placed in close proximity to the structure to allow formation of a thermal transfer bridge that conducts heat into or out of the medium.
In one embodiment of the present invention, since the fin, and the container are not rigidly attached the structure can be removed from the container.
When a medium inside the container is frozen, a bridge made of the frozen medium will form between the distal end of the fin and the portion of the container close to the distal end of the fin. This bridge will allow heat to be conducted to or from the fin across the bridge speeding the removal of heat from the medium.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fin is at least partially attached to a structure within the container allowing heat to be transferred out of the fin through the attachment point and the thermal bridge when it is formed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the distal end of the fin is placed close enough to another surface of the container, for example, another fin or structure in the container, such that when the medium is cooled, the thermal transport bridge is formed between the fin and the other structure in the container—which may of course be a fin.
The present invention is useful for both the cooling and heating of a medium. When a medium is being frozen the thermal bridges help transfer heat out of the medium. When the medium is being heated the thermal bridges help heat to be transferred into the medium.
The medium can also be a gas being converted to a liquid or a liquid being converted to a gas. In these cases the liquid phase of the medium that collects between the fin and the structure will act as the thermal bridge to enhance the conduction of heat between the fin and the structure.
Additionally, the fin can have structures on it which will enhance the formation of solid or liquid thermal bridges and/or enhance the heat conduction through such bridges. For example, a portion of the fin may be enlarged to provide more surface area for conduction and contact with a thermal bridge, or the fin may be tailored to enhance nucleation of the solid or condensation of the liquid. Also, a fin may have a non-uniform cross-section to enhance thermal transport or achieve desired thermal transport characteristics. This may be desirable to help achieve cryobiology protocols. Furthermore, the fin can have interior channels that allow a heat exchange medium to flow within at least a portion of the fin. Other variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The system may be configured so that a heating or cooling device is coupled to any portion of the container. For example, without departing from the present invention, a heater or cooler could be attached to an exterior portion of the container (e.g. a wall of the container), to a
Leonard Leonidas Cartwright
Wisniewski Richard
Abraham David J.
Ford John K.
Integrated Biosystems, Inc.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
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