CPC C12M 41/34 (2013.01) [B01D 46/0028 (2013.01); B01D 46/0036 (2013.01); B01D 53/04 (2013.01); B01D 53/047 (2013.01); C12M 23/34 (2013.01); C12M 29/24 (2013.01); B01D 2253/102 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A gas supply system for a controlled atmosphere incubator, comprising:
an ambient air compressor fluidly coupled to a gas mixing unit via a first conduit;
a second conduit coupling the ambient air compressor to a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit or a membrane filtration unit, wherein the PSA or membrane unit is configured to produce a nitrogen rich product;
wherein the second conduit further couples the PSA or membrane unit to the gas mixing unit;
a third conduit configured to allow coupling of the gas mixing unit to the controlled atmosphere incubator;
a control unit operationally coupled to the controlled atmosphere incubator; and
a first gas sensor located in the controlled atmosphere incubator and electronically coupled to the control unit,
wherein the control unit is configured to regulate flow and/or composition of a gas stream flowing from the gas mixing unit to the controlled atmosphere incubator in response to a signal from the first gas sensor, thereby maintaining a desired gas mix in the controlled atmosphere incubator.
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13. A method of supplying gas to a controlled atmosphere incubator, comprising:
providing a gas supply system that comprises (a) an ambient air compressor fluidly coupled to a gas mixing unit via a first conduit, (b) a second conduit coupling the ambient air compressor to a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit or a membrane filtration unit, wherein the PSA or membrane unit is configured to produce a nitrogen rich product, wherein the second conduit further couples the PSA or membrane unit to the gas mixing unit, and (c) a control unit configured to independently operate respective valves in the first and second conduits;
feeding a gas stream from the gas supply system to the controlled atmosphere incubator via a third conduit that fluidly connects the gas mixing unit to the controlled atmosphere incubator;
receiving, by the control unit, a signal from a first gas sensor located in the controlled atmosphere incubator; and
using the signal in the control unit to operate at least one of the valves in the gas supply system to thereby regulate flow and/or composition of the gas stream flowing from the gas mixing unit to the controlled atmosphere incubator.
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