MODULUS SYSTEM FOR USE IN CLEAN ROOMS
The present invention relates to a module system for use in clean rooms, comprising one or more of the units connection cover for connection to a supply air pipe,air filter, preferably HEPA filter, supply air device and light module.
Today's clean room technology requires a number of different arrangements for filtering and supplying air in the desired manner, for lighting, etc. To reduce the number of holes that must be made in a ceiling, which is desirable in "clean rooms", e.g. for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, it is advantageous to be able to combine units for different functions such as light fittings, supply air devices and air filters in a common arrangement for installation at one point in the ceiling of the clean room, for instance. This requires production and storage of a large number of arrangements of various constructions for different specific combinations of functions, which complicates the technology and makes it more expensive. Examples of such arrangements are shown in DE 35 07 808 A1. This publication shows two variants of an arrangement consisting of supply air device, air filter, light sources for illumination and grid, each constructed as a separate construction.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks in the known technology.
The object is achieved by means of a module system of the type described in the introductory portion, with the characterizing features defined in claim 1.
Such a module system allows simple assembly of a system in which the various units can be combined in substantially arbitrary manner. The modules suitably have certain standard dimensions and can be packed together, suspended and built in to a ceiling in many different ways. A very limited number of base units are thus used for combination to all the relevant devices that may be necessary. The manufacture of the various
types of arrangements used for the above-mentioned purposes in clean rooms is thus simplified by their being built up of a limited number of basic or standard units. The number of units to be held in stock is also greatly reduced, namely to said standard units, with resultant savings in cost.
In accordance with one advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention the supply air device comprises a laminar flow screen detachably mounted in a frame. The screen can thus easily be removed for washing or replacement, for instance.
In accordance with a second advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention the supply air device is of combined laminar flow and turbulence type. With a combined laminar flow and turbulence device produced in this way, the turbulent air flow in the room is increased, thus resulting in a rapid reduction of the particle density in the air in the room. A supply air device of purely laminar flow type increases the risk of downrush of cold air under the supply air device and the ventilation efficiency is greatly deteriorated in the room since dead zones may easily occur.
In accordance with further advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention, the supply air device comprises an arrangement provided after the filter and consisting of a laminar flow screen detachably clamped in a frame, a turbulence device being arranged outside the outer edges in order to increase the spread of the air flowing through the supply air device. The turbulence device preferably comprises inclined panels, perforated or provided with nozzles, arranged outside the area defined by said frame. The laterally directed air flow or air jets thus achieved effectively destroy the laminar flow, thereby ensuring the above-mentioned improved ventilation efficiency.
In accordance with yet another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention supports that can be swung aside are provided for fitting the filter module from beneath in the module system. This further increases the flexibility of the system and for some applications it may be a significant advantage to be able to fit the filter module from below.
In accordance with yet another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention the connection cover and filter are arranged as one module in the form of a filter provided with a cover. The number of separate units in the system is thus reduced.
In accordance with further advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention, the laminar flow screen is provided with bushings for electrodes intended for use in generating positive or negative ions to avoid statically charging of electrically chargeable materials present in the clean room. Said bushings comprise holes provided with eyelets in the laminar flow screen. It is very important for static electricity to be removed from chargeable materials in the clean room since charging causes particles to be attracted. In the pharmaceutical industry it is thus important that plastic wrappings, for instance, do not become coated with dust particles. This of course applies particularly to the inside of the wrapping. Apparatus connected to the electrodes, for optional generation of positive or negative ions or for alternate generation of positive and negative ions for the purpose of de-electrification, may be placed anywhere outside the clean room.
In accordance with yet another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention, several module systems are combined to continuous module zones of the desired size so that the same or different properties can be conveniently achieved within the zone. Zones of different sizes and with purely laminar air flow can thus be realized if desired. Illumination can also be integrated in the zone.
To explain the invention more clearly, embodiments of the module system according to the invention, selected by way of example, will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1-3 show different embodiments of the module system according to the invention, Figure 4 shows the embodiment according to Figure 2 installed in the ceiling of a clean room and Figure 5 illustrates how a
module system according to the invention can be combined to a continuous module zone suspended from the ceiling of a clean room.
Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the module system according to the invention, comprising a connection cover 2 designed to be connected, at the top of the figure, to a supply air pipe. Below the cover 2 is a filter module 4 with so-called HEPA filter 6. The filter module 4 is sealed at the top to a frame 8 supporting the module system, with the aid of liquid seals 10.
Below the filter module 4 is a light module with built-in light fittings 12, for instance of Tear Drop type, and associated reflectors 14.
Below the light fittings a frame 16 is supported from the frame 8 via inclined panels 18. This frame 16 is of the type described in Swedish patent application No. 9802627-1 filed simultaneously herewith, and a laminar flow screen 20 is detachably clamped in this frame, as described in said patent application. The screen 20 is a very thin, fine-meshed screen, usually made of polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF), nylon or similar material having long, resilient fibers. Since the screen 20 is detachably clamped in the frame 16 it can easily be removed for cleaning or replacement, for instance.
The inclined panels 18 carrying the frame 16 may be of metal, Plexiglas or the like and are perforated or provided with nozzles to generate an air flow or air jets directed obliquely outwards, which destroy the laminar flow from the supply air device, thus providing more efficient ventilation, as discussed above. These laterally directed air flow or jets serve as disturbance jets that destroy the laminarity.
The laminar flow screen 20 is transparent so as to allow light transmission from the light fittings 12 into the clean room.
The embodiment of the module system according to the invention shown in Figure 1 thus consists of a supply air device of combined laminar flow
and turbulence type, which gives maximum turbulent flow through the room, with air filter in the form of HEPA filter and with a light module to illuminate the room.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the filter module is mountable from below. For this reason the supports 22 supporting the filter module can be swung aside. The light module can also be swung aside or alternatively taken down. The pivoting supports 22 are preferably conical (not shown in the figure) so that the filter module 4 is pressed upwards when the supports 22 are swung to the supporting position. The pivotable supports 22 may be in the form of hinges, one part of which is attached to the supporting frame 8 and the other part of which forms the pivotable support 22.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the module system according to the invention, in which the air filter and the connection cover are combined to a module 24 in the form of a HEPA filter with cover, resting in the frame 26. In this embodiment the module 24 is installed from above by insertion into the frame 26 of the module system. The part of the module system located beneath the HEPA filter is identical to the equivalent part of the module system in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the module system according to the invention comprising only a light module with light fittings 12. The bottom or lower side of the module may be designed as a combined laminar flow and turbulence device of the same type as that shown and described in connection with the previous figures. The lower part of the module may also be designed as a prisma diffuser comprising raster and dazzle protection.
Figure 4 shows the embodiment of the module system according to the invention described with reference to Figure 2, installed in the ceiling 30 of a clean room, suspended in T-bars 32 from a support structure above. The figure also shows a return air channel 34, suitably arranged in one of the wall elements of the room.
Figure 5 illustrates how the module system according to the invention can be combined to continuous zones of desired size in the ceiling 36 of the clean room. Each module system comprises a HEPA filter 38 joined via a liquid seal 40 to a connection cover 42. Below the filter 38 is a light module with light fittings 41 with fluorescent lamp and the lower side of the module system is covered by a laminar flow screen 44. By designing the frame (not shown in the figure) in which the screen is clamped so that it agrees substantially with the whole lower side of the light module, a substantially total laminar air flow can be achieved over the whole module zone obtained by combining module systems forming a part of the module zone, next to each other. The lighting also is integrated in the zone.
Besides the types of modules described above, the module system according to the invention may also comprise modularly constructed battery coolers and/or heaters for cooling or heating.