Temperature control system

Abstract

An improved system and method for controlling the temperature of fluids during a mixing procedure or a chemical, pharmaceutical, or biological process is disclosed. One embodiment of the system comprises: a first collapsible bag including a perimeter and a maximum dimension thereacross measured at full expansion of the first collapsible bag; a first interior surface portion; a second interior surface portion; one or more welds connecting the first and second interior surface portions of the first collapsible bag so as to form a channel between the first and second interior surface portions, an inlet connected to a first portion of the channel; an outlet connected to a second portion of the channel, the channel defining a bulk fluid flow pathway through the first collapsible bag from the inlet to the outlet; and a first temperature-controlling surface in contact with a first exterior surface portion of the first collapsible bag. A heat exchanger in fluid communication with another vessel that can hold or store the heated or cooled fluid is also disclosed.

1 . A system configured for use in a chemical, biological, or pharmaceutical process, the system comprising:
 a first collapsible bag comprising:   a perimeter and a maximum dimension thereacross measured at full expansion of the first collapsible bag;   a first interior surface portion;   a second interior surface portion;   one or more welds connecting the first and second interior surface portions of the first collapsible bag so as to form a channel between the first and second interior surface portions,   an inlet connected to a first portion of the channel;   an outlet connected to a second portion of the channel, the channel defining a bulk fluid flow pathway through the first collapsible bag from the inlet to the outlet; and   a first temperature-controlling surface in contact with a first exterior surface portion of the first collapsible bag.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a serpentine configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a spiral configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible bag has a volume equal to from about 1 liter to about 10,000 liters. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the average cross-sectional area of the channel at full expansion of the first collapsible bag is from about one tenth to about one fourth of the maximum dimension of the bag, the system further comprising a reusable support structure for supporting and containing the first collapsible bag. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises from about 4 channel segments to about 10 channel segments. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature-controlling surface is selected from: a thermally-conductive material, a plurality of particles embedded in a surface of the bag, and a plate comprising channels for allowing fluid to flow therethrough, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second temperature-controlling surface in contact with a second exterior surface portion of the first collapsible bag. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second temperature-controlling surface is selected from a thermally-conductive material, a plurality of particles embedded in a surface of the bag, and a plate comprising channels for allowing fluid to flow therethrough, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is configured and arranged to allow variation of the distance between the first and second temperature-controlling surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a component associated with the collapsible bag that inhibits full expansion of the collapsible bag during use. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the component that inhibits full expansion of the collapsible bag during use comprises the first and second temperature-controlling surfaces maintained at a separation distance from one another that does not allow full expansion of the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible bag comprises a second exterior surface portion, the system further comprising:
 a second collapsible bag having a first exterior surface portion and a second exterior surface portion, the second collapsible bag comprising an impeller in fluid communication with the first collapsible bag.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first temperature-controlling surface is in contact with the first exterior surface portion of the second collapsible bag. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a second temperature-controlling surface in contact with the second exterior surface portion of the first collapsible bag. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a third temperature-controlling surface in contact with the second exterior surface portion of the second collapsible bag. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , configured and arranged to allow recirculation of fluid between the first and second collapsible bags. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a collapsible heat exchanger bag positioned in contact with the first or the second exterior surface portion of the first collapsible bag and in contact with the first or the second exterior surface portion of the second collapsible bag. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 flowing a reaction fluid having a first temperature from a chemical, biological or pharmaceutical reactor into the collapsible bag of the system of  claim 1 , the collapsible bag in fluid communication with the reactor;   changing a temperature of the reaction fluid in the collapsible bag by at least 5 degrees Celsius while the reaction fluid is flowing in the collapsible bag; and   flowing the reaction fluid from the collapsible bag into a container in fluid communication with the collapsible bag.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising flowing a heating or a cooling fluid adjacent the first temperature-controlling surface for a period of time sufficient to cause a change in temperature of the reaction fluid.