Device and method for drawing a liquid from a process tank

Abstract

A device for drawing a liquid from a process tank, in particular, a process tank to be protected from contamination, comprising: a first receptacle for receiving the liquid withdrawn from the process tank. A first liquid line, connecting the process tank with the first receptacle and having a first end that can be connected with the process tank and a second end opening into the first receptacle; and at least one first valve assembly, which is arranged between the first and second ends of the first liquid line and is designed to block or release liquid transport through the first liquid line. The device has at least one pressure sensor, which is connected with the first receptacle, in particular, for detecting a pressure prevailing within the first receptacle and/or is arranged at the second end of the first liquid line. The device is designed to transport liquid from the process tank to the first receptacle in a first operating mode, characterized in that the device is designed to block liquid transport from the process tank to the first receptacle in a second operating mode, wherein said device is designed such that a pressure difference (p 1 −p 2 ) between the first and the second ends of the first liquid line is greater than or equal to zero, in particular, greater than a predetermined permissible minimum value greater than or equal to zero, in particular, greater than a predetermined minimum value, both in the first operating mode and the second operating mode and as long as the first end of the first liquid line is connected with the process tank and the process tank is to be protected from contamination.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A device for drawing a liquid from a process tank, in particular, a process tank to be protected from contamination, comprising:
 a first receptacle for receiving the liquid drawn from the process tank;   a first liquid line that connects the process tank with said first receptacle and which has a first end that can be connected to the process tank and a second end that opens into said first receptacle;   at least one first valve assembly, which is arranged between said first and second ends of said first liquid line and is adapted to selectively block or allow liquid transport through said first liquid line; and   at least one pressure sensor, which is connected with said first receptacle for detecting a pressure within said first receptacle, and/or is arranged at said second end of said first liquid line, wherein:   the device is designed to transport liquid in a first operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle;   the device is designed to block transport of a liquid in a second operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle;   the device is designed such that both in said first operating mode and said second operating mode, and as long as said first end of said first liquid line is connected with the process tank and as long as the process tank must be protected from contamination, there is a pressure difference between said first end and said second end of said first liquid line that is greater than or equal to zero, especially greater than a predetermined allowable minimum value.   
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 the device is designed to monitor the pressure difference between said first and said second ends of said first liquid line, based on a measurement signal output by said pressure sensor and/or to control and/or regulate the pressure difference, in particular in said first and in said second operating condition, as long as said first end of said liquid line is connected to the process tank and as long as the process tank must be protected from contamination.   
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a control unit, which is designed to control and/or to regulate the pressure difference between said first and said second end of said first liquid line, based on the measurement signal of said pressure sensor, in such a way that it is greater than zero, in particular greater than or equal to the predetermined allowed minimum value.   
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said control mechanism is also designed to determine whether the process tank must be protected from contamination at a particular point of time or in a certain time interval, based on a control signal, and a control signal provided by a process control system that controls the process that is carried out in the process tank or by an entry command of an operator.   
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said control unit is also designed to control and/or regulate the pressure difference, at a particular point of time or in a certain time interval, between said first and said second ends of said first liquid line such that it is greater than zero, and greater than or equal to the predetermined allowed minimum value, based on a control signal, which is provided by a process control system that controls the process that is carried out in the process tank or by an entry command of an operator, said control signal represents a time interval during which the process tank must be protected from contamination.   
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 said first liquid line has a sluice valve, which is designed, so as to traverse said first end of said first liquid line between a first position, which is retracted into the process tank and in which said first end is connected to the process tank, and a second position, which is extended from the process tank and in which said first end is not connected to the process tank.   
     
     
         37 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 said pressure sensor correlates with a gas volume contained in said first receptacle for detecting the gas pressure prevailing inside said first receptacle.   
     
     
         38 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 said first receptacle, is connected, in particular via a gas line opening into said first receptacle, with a gas pressure controller, which is used for controlling and/or regulating a gas pressure prevailing in said first receptacle, based on a measurement signal that is output by said pressure sensor.   
     
     
         39 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 said gas pressure regulator is designed to control or regulate the gas pressure prevailing in the first receptacle such that the gas pressure prevailing in said first receptacle leads to the fact that the pressure prevailing at said second end of said first liquid line is lower than the pressure prevailing at said first end of said first liquid line by at least the minimum allowed value.   
     
     
         40 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 a sterile filter is arranged between said gas pressure regulator and said first receptacle, in particular within said gas line.   
     
     
         41 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 said first liquid line includes a constant and/or adjustable and/or controllable flow resistance, in particular an adjustable hose pinch valve.   
     
     
         42 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 said second end of said first liquid line opens in such a way into said first receptacle that the liquid emerging from said second end of said first liquid line passes through a gravity section.   
     
     
         43 . A method for operating a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank, in particular for operating a device comprising a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank, in particular, a process tank to be protected from contamination, comprising: a first receptacle for receiving the liquid drawn from the process tank; a first liquid line that connects the process tank with said first receptacle and which has a first end that can be connected to the process tank and a second end that opens into said first receptacle; at least one first valve assembly, which is arranged between said first and second ends of said first liquid line and is adapted to selectively block or allow liquid transport through said first liquid line; and at least one pressure sensor, which is connected with said first receptacle for detecting a pressure within said first receptacle, and/or is arranged at said second end of said first liquid line, wherein: the device is designed to transport liquid in a first operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle; the device is designed to block transport of a liquid in a second operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle;
 the device is designed such that both in said first operating mode and said second operating mode, and as long as said first end of said first liquid line is connected with the process tank and as long as the process tank must be protected from contamination, there is a pressure difference between said first end and said second end of said first liquid line that is greater than or equal to zero, especially greater than a predetermined allowable minimum value, the method comprising the steps of: connecting the process tank to be protected from contamination and the first receptacle for receiving the liquid withdrawn from the process tank are connected by means of a first liquid line;   connecting the liquid line having a first end that with the process tank and having a second end that opens into the first receptacle;   transporting the liquid from the process tank to the first receptacle in a first operating mode;   blocking a liquid transport from the process tank to the first receptacle in a second operating mode; and   applying a pressure difference that is greater than zero, especially greater than or equal to a predetermined allowed minimum value is applied between the first and the second ends of the first liquid line, in both said first and said second operating modes and as long as the first end of the first liquid line is connected to the process tank and as long as the process tank is to be protected from contamination, wherein:   blocking of liquid transport from the process tank into the first receptacle is by means of a valve assembly, which is arranged between the first and second ends of the liquid line and is adapted to block or release liquid transport through the first liquid line.   
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein:
 the pressure difference is monitored by means of a pressure sensor that is connected with the first receptacle, in particular for detecting a pressure prevailing in the receptacle.   
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein:
 the pressure difference can be controlled and/or regulated on the basis of the measurement signal of the pressure sensor in such a way that it is greater than zero, especially greater than or equal to a predetermined allowed minimum value.   
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein:
 the pressure difference is applied in said first or said second operating mode by generating, controlling or regulating a gas pressure in the first receptacle, thus leading to the fact that the pressure prevailing at the second end of the first liquid line is lower than the pressure prevailing at the first end of the first liquid line at least by an allowed minimum value.   
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein:
 the liquid is transported in said first operating mode from the process tank to the first receptacle by controlled increase in the pressure difference.   
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein:
 for drawing a defined volume of the liquid from the process tank and transferring to the first receptacle in a first step, the pressure difference between the first and the second ends of the first liquid line is increased with the first liquid line blocked, in a subsequent second step, the first liquid line is released, whereby liquid is transported from the process tank towards the first receptacle in a subsequent third step, the first liquid line is blocked again, thus making sure the pressure difference never falls below zero and/or a minimum value allowed.   
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein:
 the liquid volume drawn from the process tank is determined, based on the increase in gas pressure in the first receptacle, detected by the pressure sensor during the liquid transport.   
     
     
         50 . A system, comprising: a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank comprising a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank, in particular, a process tank to be protected from contamination, comprising: a first receptacle for receiving the liquid drawn from the process tank; a first liquid line that connects the process tank with said first receptacle and which has a first end that can be connected to the process tank and a second end that opens into said first receptacle; at least one first valve assembly, which is arranged between said first and second ends of said first liquid line and is adapted to selectively block or allow liquid transport through said first liquid line; and at least one pressure sensor, which is connected with said first receptacle for detecting a pressure within said first receptacle, and/or is arranged at said second end of said first liquid line, wherein: the device is designed to transport liquid in a first operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle; the device is designed to block transport of a liquid in a second operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle; the device is designed such that both in said first operating mode and said second operating mode, and as long as said first end of said first liquid line is connected with the process tank and as long as the process tank must be protected from contamination, there is a pressure difference between said first end and said second end of said first liquid line that is greater than or equal to zero, especially greater than a predetermined allowable minimum value; and
 a device for treating the withdrawn liquid, wherein said device for withdrawing a liquid comprises a second liquid line, which is different from said first liquid line, opens into the first receptacle, is used to drain the liquid from the first receptacle and is connected to the device for the treatment of the withdrawn liquid via a coupling device. 
 
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein:
 said device for treating the liquid is designed to separate particles, in particular cells, cell components and/or cell aggregates, from the liquid, in particular at least 25% of the particulate matter contained in a given unit volume of the liquid.   
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein:
 said device for treating the liquid has a second receptacle and a gas pressure control mechanism that is connected with the second receptacle for setting a gas pressure in said second receptacle, as well as a third liquid line, which opens into said second receptacle and is connected with said second liquid line.   
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein:
 said device for treating the liquid has at least one particle separation module, comprising, in particular a sterile filter, for separating the particles.   
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 53 , wherein:
 said device for treating the liquid comprises a fourth liquid line opening into said second receptacle, which is connected with a fifth liquid line, in particular in a detachable manner, via said particle separation module; and   said fifth liquid line has a first branching point over which liquid can be drawn from said fifth liquid line, in particular for transfer to an analyzer.   
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein:
 in at least one of the liquid lines of the device for drawing a liquid from the process tank and/or at least one of the liquid lines of the device for treating the liquid comprises at least one conductivity sensor, which is designed to detect a fill level of the liquid line in the area of the conductivity sensor.   
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein:
 said device for drawing the liquid from the process tank and/or the device for treatment of the liquid withdrawn is/are designed as a module that is separable from the rest of the system; and   the module can be arranged, spatially separated from the rest of the system and connected with it via liquid lines.   
     
     
         57 . A method for operating a system comprising: a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank comprising a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank, in particular, a process tank to be protected from contamination, comprising: a first receptacle for receiving the liquid drawn from the process tank; a first liquid line that connects the process tank with said first receptacle and which has a first end that can be connected to the process tank and a second end that opens into said first receptacle; at least one first valve assembly, which is arranged between said first and second ends of said first liquid line and is adapted to selectively block or allow liquid transport through said first liquid line; and at least one pressure sensor, which is connected with said first receptacle for detecting a pressure within said first receptacle, and/or is arranged at said second end of said first liquid line, wherein: the device is designed to transport liquid in a first operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle; the device is designed to block transport of a liquid in a second operating mode from the process tank to said first receptacle; the device is designed such that both in said first operating mode and said second operating mode, and as long as said first end of said first liquid line is connected with the process tank and as long as the process tank must be protected from contamination, there is a pressure difference between said first end and said second end of said first liquid line that is greater than or equal to zero, especially greater than a predetermined allowable minimum value; and
 a device for treating the withdrawn liquid, wherein said device for withdrawing a liquid comprises a second liquid line, which is different from said first liquid line, opens into the first receptacle, is used to drain the liquid from the first receptacle and is connected to the device for the treatment of the withdrawn liquid via a coupling device;   the method comprising the steps of:   drawing a liquid from a process tank;   treating the withdrawn liquid, in particular for a subsequent analyzer; and   transporting the liquid according to a first operating mode from a first receptacle of a device for drawing a liquid from a process tank via a second liquid line, said second liquid line being connected between the first receptacle and the second receptacle of the device for treating the withdrawn liquid, into the second receptacle, wherein:   the liquid is transported by setting a gas pressure prevailing in the second receptacle lower than the gas pressure prevailing in the first receptacle.   
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein:
 said first operating mode comprises another step of conveying liquid from the second receptacle to a liquid line connected with the second receptacle via a particle separation module.   
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 57 , comprising:
 a second operating mode, in which the particle separation module is backwashed for cleaning, in particular using a cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid.   
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein:
 the second operating mode also includes treatment of at least a portion of the surfaces of the system in contact with a liquid, using a cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid.