Fluid distributor unit

Abstract

A fluid distributor unit comprising a channel system where one or more inlet channels (2) starting on an inlet side (3) of the distributor unit branch out successively into several channels (6) ending on the other side of the distributor unit, called the outlet side (4), characterised in that said distributor unit is provided in one single body (1) by free form fabrication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sanitary fluid distributor unit for processing of biomacromolecules using a packed column comprising a one piece channel system where one or more inlet channels starting on an inlet side of the distributor unit branch out successively into several channels ending on the other side of the distributor unit, called the outlet side, characterised in that said distributor unit is provided in one single body by free form fabrication (FFF) and that the channel system comprises curved channels that form a tree structure. 
     
     
         2 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where the channel system has two or more generations of branching. 
     
     
         3 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where the maximum angle of curvature of the channels is more than 20 degrees, such as between 20 and 70 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where the average radius of curvature of the channels is less than 5 channel diameters and/or the minimum radius of curvature is above 0.25 channel diameters. 
     
     
         5 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where said unit comprises tapered channel segments. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 5 , where the channel diameter decreases from the inlet side of the unit. 
     
     
         7 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 6 , where at the outlet side, the channel diameter increases to form a set of conical or pyramidal diffusors. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where all pathways from the inlet side to the outlet side have the same flow resistance. 
     
     
         9 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , comprising an integral filter having average pore diameter below 30 microns. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughness average Ra of the channel surfaces is less than 5 microns, such as less than 2.5 microns. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where the material of construction generates less than 1 mg/l leachables in an extraction fluid. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , where the material of construction does not contain toxic leachables according to the USP VI standard. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising an integral elastomeric sealing area provided therewith. 
     
     
         14 . A chromatography column equipped with a fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A chromatography column according to  claim 14 , where the column bed diameter is larger than: 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm or 40 cm. 
     
     
         16 . A method to prepare a sanitary fluid distributor unit for processing of biomacromolecules where said fluid distributor unit comprises a tree structure channel system with one or more inlet channels starting on an inlet side of the distributor unit, branching out successively into several curved channels and ending on the other side of the distributor unit, called the outlet side, characterized by providing said distributor unit in one single body through using free form fabrication. 
     
     
         17 . A method to prepare a fluid distributor unit according to  claim 1 , by free form fabrication. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a step of modifying the channel surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of modifying the channel surfaces comprises applying a coating on the channel surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of modifying the channel surfaces comprises abrading the channel surfaces. 
     
     
         21 . A method to prepare a fluid distributor unit according to  claim 16 , further comprising communicating a design file from a computer assisted design (CAD) system to a computer-controlled free form fabrication system. 
     
     
         22 . A method to prepare a fluid distributor unit according to  claim 16 , further comprising designing drawings in CAD and optimizing them using a computer software to simulate properties of the fluid flow in regard to distribution, residence time, hold-up volume, pressure loss or fluid velocity in order to determine whether they are constant for all paths through the channel system, or vary according to a predetermined pattern.