System for Processing Liquid and/or Solid Compounds

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for processing liquid and/or solid compounds, comprising a vessel (3) and a holding device (5) for the vessel (3), the holding device (5) comprising a stop (15) against which the vessel (3) rests after being inserted into the holding device (5) and a supply unit (7) opposite the stop (15), the supply unit (7) comprising a closing element (9), which can be set to a first and a second position, wherein in the first position of the closing element (9) the vessel (3) can be inserted into the holding device (5) and in the second position of the closing element (9) the vessel (3) inserted into the holding device (5) is pressed against the stop (15) by the closing element (9).

Claims

1. A system for processing liquid and/or solid compounds, comprising a vessel and a holding device for the vessel, the holding device comprising a stop against which the vessel rests after being inserted into the holding device and a supply unit opposite the stop, the supply unit comprising a closing element, which can be set to a first and a second position, wherein in the first position of the closing element the vessel can be inserted into the holding device and in the second position of the closing element the vessel inserted into the holding device is pressed against the stop by the closing element, wherein the closing element comprises a ball which is mounted rotatable in a housing, the ball comprising an opening through which the vessel can be inserted into the holding device in the first position and wherein the vessel rests on an outer surface of the ball in the second position.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a mixing device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the mixing device is mounted in the vessel and the holding device comprises a seating for the mixing device which is arranged such that the mixing device is inserted into the seating when the vessel rests against the stop.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the mixing device is arranged on the holding device in such a way that the mixing device enters into the vessel when the vessel is inserted into the holding device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stop comprises a sealing element against which the vessel rests when being inserted into the holding device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the holding device comprises a temperature regulating element for tempering the vessel.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the holding device encloses the vessel tightly when the closing element is in the second position.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the holding device comprises at least one inlet to feed material into the vessel.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the holding device comprises at least one entry through which a sample can be taken.

10. The system according to claim 1, additionally comprising a feeder by which a number of vessels can be inserted into the holding device in succession.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one vessel comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the holding device (5), the cleaning device preferably comprising an injection lance to spray a cleaning liquid into the holding device.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one vessel comprises an optical sensor.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stop in the holding device is part of a cover by which the vessel is closed, when inserted into the holding device.

Description

[0045] In the figures:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an inventive system;

[0047] FIGS. 2a to 2c show the process of inserting a vessel into the holding device;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a heatable holding device with an inserted vessel;

[0049] FIGS. 4a to 4f show different vessels which can be inserted into the holding device.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an inventive system

[0051] A system 1 for processing liquid and/or solid compounds comprises a vessel 3 and a holding device 5 for the vessel 3.

[0052] To insert the vessel 3 into the holding device 5, the holding device 5 comprises a supply unit 7 with a closing element 9. In the embodiment shown here, the closing element 9 is in the form of a ball with an opening 11. For inserting the vessel 3 into the holding device 5, the closing element 9 is in a first position, in which the opening 11 is arranged such that the vessel 3 can be pushed through the opening 11 into the holding device 5. To insert the vessel 3 through the opening 11 into the holding device 5, for example a piston 13 can be used. In this case, the vessel 3 is placed on top of the piston 13 and for inserting the vessel 3 into the holding device 5, the piston 13 moves upwards and thus the vessel 3 also moves upwards through the opening 11 into the holding device 5. This process is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2a to 2c.

[0053] On the side opposite the closing element 9, a stop 15 is provided. When inserting a vessel 3 into the holding device 5, the vessel 3 is pushed upwards until it rests against the stop 15. To obtain a fluid tight connection, it is possible to either provide the stop with a suitable sealing or to use a sealing as stop 15. For closing the vessel 3, in this case, it is particularly preferred, when the holding device 5 comprises a cover 17 by which the vessel is closed when inserted into the holding device 5.

[0054] For automatically change the vessels 3 after a process is finished, preferably a feeder 19 is provided. The feeder 19 for example can be a robot arm which can grab a vessel 3 from a supply 21 and put the vessel 3 on the piston 13. If a used vessel 3 from a previous process still stands on the piston 13, the feeder 19 first removes the used vessel 3 from the piston and puts the new vessel 3 onto the piston 13 in a following step. The used vessels 3 for example can be returned into the supply 21 or removed from the system 1. If the vessels 3 are removed from the system, it is for example possible to transport them to an analysis unit which is not shown here. Such an analysis unit for example can comprise a unit for analyzing the composition of the content in the vessel 3 like a chromatograph or a spectroscope, for example an X-ray spectroscope or an infrared spectroscope. Further, the analysis unit may comprise devices for measuring any physical or chemical properties of the contents in the vessel like viscosity, melting point, boiling point, or flash point, density, phase separation, color or turbidity.

[0055] For analyzing the contents of the vessel 3 during the process, it is further preferred to take samples from the vessel when it is placed in the holding device 5. Such samples for example can be taken by using syringe 23. Particularly preferably, the feeder 19 is designed in such a way, that the sample can be taken by using the feeder 19. In this case, the feeder 19 grabs a syringe 23 and takes the sample by using the syringe 23. This preferably is performed by introducing the syringe 23 into the vessel 3 while the vessel 3 is in the holding device 5. If the holding device 5 comprises the cover 17 for closing the vessel 3 or the vessel 3 itself is closed by a cover, it is particularly preferred, when the cover 17 is designed in such a way that an injection needle 25 of the syringe 23 can be penetrated through the cover. For this purpose it is for example possible to provide a membrane in the cover 17 which is made from an elastic material through which the injection needle 25 can be penetrated into the vessel 3. By using the elastic material, for example an elastomer, the hole which results from penetrating the injection needle 25 closes after the injection needle 25 is removed.

[0056] Besides taking samples by using the syringes 23, it is also possible to feed additional components into the vessel 3 by using a syringe 23. The principle for feeding components into the vessel 3 by using a syringe 23 is the same as for taking a sample by using a syringe 23. The only difference is that for taking a sample the syringe is empty when the injection needle 25 of the syringe 23 is penetrated through the membrane of the cover and the syringe is filled by pulling the piston of the syringe 23 after the injection needle 25 is penetrated through the membrane and that for feeding a component into the vessel 3, the syringe 23 contains that component when the injection needle is penetrated through the membrane and the contents of the syringe are fed into the vessel 3 by pushing the piston of the syringe 23 after the injection needle has penetrated the membrane and extends into the vessel 3. For taking a sample, it is necessary that the injection needle 25 has a length which is sufficient that the injection needle 25 extends into the contents of the vessel after having penetrated the membrane, whereas for feeding an additional component it depends on whether the component has to be fed with a dipped injection needle or can be added on top of the contents in the vessel 3.

[0057] The contents used for the process which is carried out in the vessel 3, can be fed into the vessel before the vessel is placed on the piston 13 for introducing the vessel 3 into the holding device 5. Further, all components can be added as described above by using syringes for feeding the components. Besides these options, it is also possible to feed the components for the process operated in the vessel 3 by using at least one feed line 27. The feed line preferably is arranged such that the components fed through the feed line are fed into the vessel 3 from above. If the holding device 5 comprises a cover 17, it is preferred to arrange the feed line 27 on the cover. In case the vessel comprises its own cover, it is possible to provide a connection means on the cover and to connect the feed line by using the connection means, when the vessel is placed in the holding device 5. Such a connection means for example can be a snap joint or a screw joint. Further, for taking samples continuously, it is also possible to use a sample line which is connected to the holding device 5 and extends into the vessel 3 when the vessel is inserted into the holding device 5.

[0058] For taking samples the sample line preferably is connected to a pump by which the sample can be withdrawn from the vessel 3. If the process in the vessel is carried out under pressure, it can be sufficient to set ambient pressure on the sample line for withdrawing a sample.

[0059] If the process in the vessel 3 is carried out under pressure or at a pressure below ambient pressure, a suitable compressor or vacuum pump is connected to the holding device 5 by which the respective pressure can be set to the vessel after the vessel is introduced into the holding device 5. In this case, it is necessary to tightly close the vessel 3, for example by the cover 17 of the holding device 5 or a separate cover which is part of the vessel to apply either excess pressure or a vacuum to the vessel 3 depending of the process which is carried out in the vessel 3. Besides only setting the respective pressure to the vessel 3, it is also possible, to set the excess pressure or the vacuum to the holding device 5. In this case, the holding device 5 has to be tightly closed. However, setting the pressure to the complete holding device 5 has the advantage, that the compressor or vacuum pump can be connected at any position of the holding device 5 and must not be connected to the cover 17 by which the vessel is closed. To keep the pressure during the whole process, in this case it is necessary to tightly close the holding device 5 after the vessel 3 is inserted. This is obtained by using a suitable closing element 9 which tightly closes the holding device 5, for example by using a ball as closing element 9 as shown in the figures.

[0060] To monitor the pressure and/or the temperature of the process carried out in the vessel 3, it is further possible, to apply suitable pressure sensors and/or temperature sensors. As usually no pressure differences occur in the vessel, for monitoring the pressure, one pressure sensor which can be placed at any position in the holding device 5 is sufficient. On the other hand, particularly if the process carried out in the vessel 3 is a chemical reaction or a thermal separation process, the temperature may be different on different positions in the vessel. Therefore, for monitoring temperature profiles, a plurality of temperature sensors placed at different positions should be provided. Temperature sensors and pressure sensors used for monitoring temperature and pressure, thereby, can be any temperature sensors or pressure sensors known to a skilled person.

[0061] Further, the pressure sensors and/or temperature sensors also can be used to control pressure and/or temperature in connection with a compressor or vacuum pump or a tempering device in a common manner known to a person skilled in the art.

[0062] FIGS. 2a to 2c show the process of introducing a vessel 3 into the holding device 5 in a schematic way.

[0063] For inserting a vessel 3 into the holding device 5, in a first step as shown in FIG. 2a, the vessel 3 is placed on a piston 13 by which the vessel 3 can be lifted into the holding device 5. The closing element 9 of the supply unit 7 is in a first position in which the opening 11 is oriented such that that the central axis 29 of the opening 11 and the central axis 31 of the vessel 3 correspond. To further allow the vessel 3 to be pushed through the opening 11, the cross-sectional area of the opening 11 is designed such that the vessel 3 does not come into contact with the opening 11 when pushed through. Particularly preferably, cross-sectional area of the opening 11 corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the vessel 3 with the only difference that the cross-sectional area of the opening 11 is slightly bigger than the cross-sectional area of the vessel 3. Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the opening is designed such that there is a distance between the vessel 3 and the walls 33 in the range from 0.001 to 10 mm, preferably from 0.1 to 10 mm and particularly from 0.1 to 1 mm while the vessel 3 is in the opening 11. Thereby, it is not necessary that the distance between the walls 22 of the opening and the vessel 3 is constant over the full circumference of the vessel 3. It only has to be considered that there is a distance between the walls of the opening 11 and the vessel 3 over the whole circumference of the vessel 3.

[0064] After placing the vessel 3 on the piston 13, the piston moves upwards to push the vessel 3 through the opening 11 in the closing element 9 into the holding device 5. The movement of the piston is stopped as soon as the vessel 3 abuts the stop 15 in the holding device 5. This is shown in FIG. 2b. After the vessel 3 has reached this position, the vessel 3 is arrested in this position to allow removing the piston 13 and to keep the vessel 3 in its position. This for example can be done by slightly twisting the closing element 9 so that an edge of the bottom of the vessel 3 stands on the closing vessel at the edge of the opening 11. By this slight twisting the opening 11 remains in a position which allows moving the piston downward to bring the piston 13 into a position in which the closing element 9 can be brought into a second position in which the vessel 3 is fixed in the holding device 5. This second position of the closing element 9 is shown in FIG. 2c. When the closing element 9 is in this position, the vessel 3 rests on an outer surface 35 of the closing element 9 and is pressed against the stop 15.

[0065] If the space in the holding device 5 in which the vessel 3 is accommodated for carrying out the intended process has to be tightly closed, it is preferred that the supply unit 7 with the closing element 9 is designed in such a way that the bottom of the holding device 5 is tightly closed when the closing element 9 is in the second position as shown in FIG. 2c. Further the cover 17 is provided which tightly closes the top of the holding device 5. Further, by designing the stop 15 as a sealing or by providing the stop 15 with a sealing, for example an O-ring or a sealing cord, it is possible to tightly close the vessel 3.

[0066] For removing the vessel 3 from the holding device 5 after the process carried out in the vessel is finished, the closing element is twisted back into the position in which the piston 13 can be moved through the opening 11 but the vessel 3 still is hold in place, then the piston 13 is moved upwards until the vessel 3 stands on the piston 13. In a next step, the closing element 11 is twisted into the first position which allows to remove the vessel 3 by moving downwards the piston 13 on which the vessel 3 stands. After being moved downwards the vessel 3 can be replaced by another vessel to carry out the next process.

[0067] If it is necessary to cool or heat the vessel 3 during the process carried out in the vessel 3, a temperature regulating element 37 can be provided as shown in FIG. 3.

[0068] If the vessel 3 shall be heated, it is for example possible to design the holding device 5 with a double jacket or to enclose the holding device 5 with heating coils through which a heating medium, for example hot water, steam or a thermal oil can flow. For cooling the vessel 3, it alternatively is possible to use a cooling medium like cold water, or any other liquid medium which is known to a skilled person, which flows through the double jacket or the heating coils. Further, it is also possible to use an electrical heating or induction heating for heating the vessel or Peltier elements for cooling. Beside these, all other heating or cooling devices known to a skilled person and suitable for heating or cooling the vessel 3 can be used as temperature regulating element 37.

[0069] To carry out different processes in the vessel, it is possible to use different vessels 3 for the different processes. Examples for vessels which can be used in the inventive system are shown in FIGS. 4a to 4c.

[0070] If mixing of the contents of the vessel 3 is necessary, it is for example possible to use a vessel which is equipped with a mixing device 39 as shown in FIG. 4a. The mixing device 39 can be any stirrer which allows mixing of the contents in the vessel 3, for example a paddle mixer, an oblique paddle mixer, a propeller mixer, a horseshoe mixer or any other mixer or agitator known to a skilled person.

[0071] For operating the mixing device 39, preferably a shaft 41 of the mixing device 39 is guided through a holding device 43. Depending on the geometry, the shaft can be held in the center of the holding device 43 or eccentric. Further, it is possible to orient the shaft 41 parallel to the central axis of the vessel 3 or inclined to the central axis of the vessel 3. The holding device 43 preferably comprises a bearing, for example a ball bearing, in which the shaft is fixed. If the vessel shall be closed, it is further possible to design the holding device 43 as cover. Alternatively, the holding device 43 also can comprise at least one, preferably 2, 3 or 4 bars which hold the bearing in which the shaft 41 is fixed and which may have any suitable cross-section, for example circular or angular like triangular or quadrangular.

[0072] The shaft 41 of the mixing device 39 preferably is designed such that it can be attached to a driving shaft when the vessel 3 is inserted into the holding device 5. The driving shaft can be part of the holding device 5 or a separate part which ends at such a position that the shaft 41 attaches to the driving shaft after the vessel 3 is inserted into the holding device 5. As an alternative to a driving shaft it is also possible to place the motor for the mixing device 39 in a position that the shaft 41 is directly connected to the motor when the vessel 3 is inserted into the holding device 5.

[0073] For cleaning the inside of the holding device 5, it is possible to use a vessel 3 which is equipped with a cleaning device 45. The cleaning device for example can be an injection lance by which a cleaning liquid is sprayed into the holding device 5 after the vessel 3 is inserted into the holding device 5. For feeding the cleaning liquid, the injection lance can be connected to a flexible feed line, for example a flexible tube or a hose. Depending on the position of the flexible feed line in the vessel 3, it is possible to have a fixed connection which needs not to be disconnected when placing the vessel 3 on the piston 13 or removing the vessel 3 back to a supply where it is stored when not used. If the feed line for the cleaning device 45 has to be guided through the opening 11 in the closing element 9 it might not be possible to bring the closing element 9 into the second position after inserting the vessel 3. In this case it is either possible to hold the vessel 3 in the holding device 5 by twisting the closing element 9 only partly so that an access to the vessel through the opening 11 remains open. Alternatively, it is also possible, that for the cleaning process the vessel remains on the piston 13 and the closing device 9 remains in the first position which allows the vessel 3 and the piston 13 being pushed through the opening 11.

[0074] FIG. 4c shows schematically a vessel 3 with an optical device 47, for example a camera or an optical sensor. Such a vessel 3 can be used for example to observe the process in the vessel or alternatively to monitor for example the cleaning result of the holding device 5 after the vessel 3 with the cleaning device 45 was used. The picture of the cleaning result taken with the optical device 47 can be compared with a picture of the holding device 5 in a clean state to assess the cleaning success and to repeat the cleaning if necessary.

[0075] If a process shall be carried out which uses components which are difficult to feed or which are solid, it is further possible to add these components 49 into the vessel 3 before the vessel 3 is inserted into the holding device 5. Such a vessel 3 with predosed components 49 is shown exemplary in FIG. 4d.

[0076] A further embodiment for a vessel 3 which can be used for cleaning is shown in FIG. 4e. In difference to the vessel 3 with the cleaning device 45 shown in FIG. 4b, the vessel 3 of FIG. 4e additionally comprises a drainage 51 for used cleaning liquid. This additional drainage 51 allows using an amount of cleaning liquid which exceeds the volume of the vessel 3 as during the cleaning process the cleaning liquid can be drained. Besides draining the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process, the cleaning is carried out as described above in connection with FIG. 4b.

[0077] If it is intended to carry out a continuous process in the vessel 3, it is necessary to remove components from the vessel 3 during the process to keep the amount in the vessel 3 constant. For removing components, it is preferred to use a dip tube 53 as shown in FIG. 4f. By using the dip tube 53, removing components can be carried out from the top of the vessel which allows a tight closing of the holding device 5 by the closing element 9 as no drainage has to be guided through the closing element 9. If a dip tube is used, it can be part of the vessel 3 and fixed to the vessel 3, wherein a connection is provided with a drainage tube in the holding device 5 to which the dip tube 53 is connected when the vessel 3 is inserted into the holding device 5. Alternatively, the dip tube 53 can be part of the holding device 5 and be inserted into the vessel 3 when the vessel is inserted into the holding device 5.

[0078] If such a dip tube 53 for removing components is used, it is preferred to add components to the process as described above by feeding lines which are part of the holding device 5 and preferably are connected to the cover 17 of the holding device 5.

[0079] Alternatively, a dip tube 53 could also be used as a cover sleeve around at least one sensor, for example a thermocouple. In this case the dip tube 53 acts as a fouling protection and surrounds a tubular sensor as a protection against the process fluids in the vessel. During the insertion of the vessel 3, the dip tube 53 will be aligned with the sensor in a concentric way with the length of the dip tube 53 enabling a protection of the sensor minimum above fluid level in the vessel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0080] 1 system [0081] 3 vessel [0082] 5 holding device [0083] 7 supply unit [0084] 9 closing element [0085] 11 opening [0086] 13 piston [0087] 15 stop [0088] 17 cover [0089] 19 feeder [0090] 21 supply [0091] 23 syringe [0092] 25 injection needle [0093] 27 feed line [0094] 29 central axis of the opening 11 [0095] 31 central axis of the vessel 3 [0096] 33 wall [0097] 35 outer surface [0098] 37 temperature regulating element [0099] 39 mixing device [0100] 41 shaft [0101] 43 holding device [0102] 45 cleaning device [0103] 47 optical device [0104] 49 components [0105] 51 drainage [0106] 53 dip tube