Gas delivery devices and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for the delivery of gas bubbles to liquids are generally described. The devices can include a primary conduit comprising a plurality of openings fluidically connecting an internal flow pathway of the primary conduit to an environment outside the primary conduit. The devices may also include, in some instances, a secondary conduit located at least partially within the primary conduit, the secondary conduit configured to redistribute the pressure of the gas delivered to the openings of the primary conduit, and comprising a plurality of openings fluidically connecting an internal flow pathway of the secondary conduit to a portion of the internal flow pathway of the primary conduit outside the secondary conduit. Certain of the gas delivery systems and methods described herein are capable of delivering gas at relatively uniform linear flow velocities across multiple gas outlet openings. Certain embodiments are related to inventive configurations (e.g., spacings and/or sizing) of gas outlet openings in one or more conduits of the gas delivery device (e.g., the primary conduit and/or, when present, the secondary conduit). In addition, some embodiments are related to inventive arrangements for joining a gas delivery device to a vessel, which may be part of for example, a reactor such as a bioreactor. Certain embodiments are related to the orientation of the gas delivery device and/or its components (e.g., during operation).