Reactor

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor driven in an oscillatory-rotary manner about its fixed, preferably vertical, axis, for preferably biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. By means of its process-intensifying properties for mixing, suspension, gaseous material transport, heat transfer, irradiation and particle retention, the applicability on the industrial scale is ensured. The reactor which succeeds without a shaft seal permits particularly robust production with respect to sterile technique with avoidance of cleaning and cleaning validation required when the reactor is constructed as a single-use reactor.

1 . A reactor comprising a reactor vessel removably inserted in and detachably attached to a reactor housing, a drive unit adapted to rotate the reactor housing, with reactor vessel inserted therein, in periodically opposite directions; said reactor housing being inserted into a holder or on an axial bearing, wherein contents of the reactor vessel are rotated in periodically opposite directions, about a fixed vertical, axis of the reactor, wherein a mechanical power input from the drive unit into the reactor vessel contents is enabled by an angular cross section and a flat, pyramidal or tetrahedral base a shell form of the reactor vessel, by mixing elements fixed within the reactor vessel, or by both. 
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor vessel has a ratio of height to mean diameter of 0.2-2.0. 
     
     
         6 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mixing elements have functionalized surfaces for carrying out physical, biological, biochemical or chemical reactions at or in membranes, for gas distribution, for liquid distribution, for irradiation, for filtration, for absorption, for adsorption, for analysis or for cooling or heating. 
     
     
         7 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reactor vessel comprises clamping elements, a lower frame, a blade agitator formed by agitator blade elements which, when the reactor vessel is operated, are clamped between two clamping elements, at least one base bearing which is fixed to the base of the reactor vessel by welding or adhesion via a support ring, a drive spindle which is let into a rotatable base, which drive spindle, depending on drive moment, is designed as a gear wheel or simple key bow, a tie rod connected to a head bearing and a holding device. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein substances to be mixed are UV-irradiated gas-treated with oxygen, filtered, cooled, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor vessel is a single-use reactor vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the reactor vessel is produced from stable, multilayer polymer material or polymer material applied to stabilizing grid structures. 
     
     
         12 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 10 , which is produced from stable plastic films. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The reactor as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the reactor housing is positively coupled to the drive unit in such a manner that the acceleration and braking of the reactor rotation proceeds at an essentially constant angular acceleration or deceleration. 
     
     
         17 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the reactor in periodically opposite directions has an angular amplitude α in the range 2°≦|α|≦3600°. 
     
     
         18 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor vessel further comprises a gas-introduction module having essentially vertically arranged permeable membranes for gas introduction to the reactor. 
     
     
         19 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the reactor vessel has at least two subpieces and the gas-introduction module has a frame for fastening the membranes, wherein the subpieces are each connected to the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the membrane has a membrane film connected to an open-pore material. 
     
     
         21 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor vessel further comprises a gas-introduction module, and the gas-introduction module has comprises a first holding profile and a second holding profile and at least one elongated membrane which is arranged so as to be led to and from between the first holding profile and the second holding profile. 
     
     
         22 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor vessel is lined on an inside at least in part with a permeable membrane for gas introduction to the reactor. 
     
     
         23 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor vessel has an elongate fluorescence sensor running essentially in the peripheral direction to the axis of the reactor and an optical detection apparatus at a distance from the reactor vessel. 
     
     
         24 . The reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation in opposite directions in a periodic fashion can be set in such a manner that, at the surface of the reactor contents, a wave flow can be generated which transports a part of the reactor contents situated at the a surface into an interior of the reactor contents. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A process for mixing and/or dispersing substances comprising mixing and/or dispersing said substances in a reactor as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of destroying foam formed in a reactor vessel which comprises mixing and/or dispersing foam forming substances in a reactor as claimed in  claim 1 .