EP2437794A1 - Liquid bubble eliminator - Google Patents

Liquid bubble eliminator

Info

Publication number
EP2437794A1
EP2437794A1 EP10721005A EP10721005A EP2437794A1 EP 2437794 A1 EP2437794 A1 EP 2437794A1 EP 10721005 A EP10721005 A EP 10721005A EP 10721005 A EP10721005 A EP 10721005A EP 2437794 A1 EP2437794 A1 EP 2437794A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
enclosure
perforated plate
bubble eliminator
liquid sterilant
tubes
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10721005A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Lennart Back
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Hill Aaron
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Hill Aaron
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA, Hill Aaron filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Publication of EP2437794A1 publication Critical patent/EP2437794A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/16—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
    • A61L2/20—Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
    • A61L2/208—Hydrogen peroxide
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/16—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
    • A61L2/20—Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D19/00—Degasification of liquids
    • B01D19/0005—Degasification of liquids with one or more auxiliary substances
    • B01D19/001—Degasification of liquids with one or more auxiliary substances by bubbling steam through the liquid
    • B01D19/0015—Degasification of liquids with one or more auxiliary substances by bubbling steam through the liquid in contact columns containing plates, grids or other filling elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D19/00—Degasification of liquids
    • B01D19/0031—Degasification of liquids by filtration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D19/00—Degasification of liquids
    • B01D19/0063—Regulation, control including valves and floats

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a liquid bubble eliminator in a liquid sterilant sterilization system.
  • VHP vaporized hydrogen peroxide
  • the hydrogen peroxide sterilant of VHP sterilization systems consists of hydrogen peroxide and water (normally 35% to 50% by mass hydrogen peroxide).
  • the hydrogen peroxide is somewhat unstable and can break down into water and oxygen. Upon breaking down, the oxygen forms small bubbles. These bubbles may accumulate and form larger bubbles.
  • VHP units have a vaporizer that converts the liquid sterilant into vapor. Bubbles flowing through the vaporizer cause a momentary reduction in the hydrogen peroxide concentration at the vaporizer outlet. Since most VHP units are used in enclosed spaces with sufficient volume having a relatively long decontamination time, the short duration of lower hydrogen peroxide concentration does not affect the overall bio-burden reduction.
  • the exposure time may be a matter of one or two seconds. Bubbles being formed in the injection lines on aseptic packaging units reduce momentarily the hydrogen peroxide concentration, creating a situation where the packages may not be sufficiently decontami- nated.
  • one object of the present invention is to design a bubble eliminator to be used in the liquid sterilant lines of VHP decontamination equipment.
  • a bubble eliminator in the form of an enclosure is formed.
  • the enclosure has an inlet and an outlet for the liquid sterilant.
  • a number of small hollow tubes are placed in the enclosure. The function of the tubes is to attract entrained air in the sterilant.
  • the bubble eliminator is designed for use with hydrogen peroxide at flow rates much lower than are normally used in water units. Since hydrogen peroxide is some- what unstable and can be broken down when exposed to catalytic surfaces, the bubble eliminator contains materials that are not catalytic to peroxide. It also has means to expel the accumulated air bubbles to prevent them from re-entering the liquid sterilant.
  • Fig. l is a sketch of a liquid peroxide bubble eliminator according to the pre- sent invention.
  • a liquid peroxide bubble eliminator according to the present invention is to be placed in a liquid sterilant line of VHP (vaporized hydrogen peroxide) equipment.
  • the eliminator comprises an enclosure 1, with an inlet 2 and an outlet 3.
  • the inlet 2 receives a flow of liquid sterilant 10, in the form of hydrogen peroxide.
  • the flow of liquid sterilant leaves the enclosure 1 by means of the outlet 3.
  • a perforated plate 4 is placed inside the enclosure 1 , giving an upper space above the perforated plate 4 and a lower space below the perforated plate 4.
  • the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 open into the lower space of the enclosure 1.
  • a float switch 5 is arranged in the upper space of the enclosure 1, i.e. above the perforated plate 4.
  • the liquid sterilant 10 partially fills the enclosure 1 up to a level above the perforated plate 4.
  • a gas 11 in the form of air is enclosed.
  • the float switch 5 controls a valve 6, expelling air (gas 11) in its open condition.
  • In the lower space of the enclosure 1 a number of small hollow tubes 7 are placed. The tubes 7 are held enclosed by the walls and bottom of the enclosure 1 and the perforated plate 4.
  • the enclosure 1 is made of a material that is non-catalytic to peroxide, such as polycarbonate.
  • the tubes 7 and the perforated plate 4 are made of a material that is non-catalytic to peroxide, such as polycarbonate.
  • air bubbles 8 are entrained.
  • the air bubbles 8 are formed when the somewhat unstable hydrogen peroxide breaks down. It is beneficial if such air bubbles 8 are removed before the sterilant reaches a vaporizer, normally arranged in VHP equipments.
  • the air bubbles 8 that is entrained in the liquid sterilant attaches to the tubes 7 of the lower space.
  • the float switch 5 at the upper space of the enclosure 1 is used to open the valve 6 to expel accumulated air.
  • the perforated plate 4 prevents the tubes 7 of the lower space from interfering with the operation of the float switch 5.
  • the float drops, thereby closing an electrical switch 9 that energizes the valve 6.
  • the valve 6 opens and expels the gas 11 until the buoyancy of the float is sufficient to lift the float switch 5, thereby opening the electrical switch 9, deenergizing (closing) the valve 6.
  • the tubes 7 should be dimensioned in a suitable way.
  • the tube length and the inner and outer diameters of the tubes 7 should be sized to promote accumulation of the bubbles.
  • the dimensions of each tube 7 was as follows: length 18 mm, outer diameter 9.5 mm and inner diameter 6.2 mm.
  • the enclosure 1 must be sized to ensure that fluid velocity is sufficiently slow for the bubbles 8 to work their way toward the top of the enclosure 1.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Degasification And Air Bubble Elimination (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention concerns a liquid bubble eliminator in a liquid sterilant sterilization system. It comprises an enclosure (1) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for a flow of liquid sterilant (10). A number of small hollow tubes (7) are placed in the enclosure (1) below a perforated plate (4). The inlet (2) and the outlet (3) are placed at the lower part of the enclosure (1). Entrained air bubbles (8) of the liquid sterilant (10) will attach to the tubes (7) and form larger bubbles that will lift towards the top of the enclosure (1). The air bubbles (8) will go through the perforated plate (4). A float switch (5) is placed on top of the liquid sterilant (10) above the perforated plate (4). The float switch (5) controls a valve (6) expelling air accumulated above the liquid sterilant (10).

Description

LIQUID BUBBLE ELIMINATOR
Technical Field The present invention concerns a liquid bubble eliminator in a liquid sterilant sterilization system.
Prior Art
Food products, such as milk, juice, dried and/or particulate foods such as soups and the like, are often packaged in sterilized containers to prolong the shelf life of the contents. Often the packaging process requires sterilization of the packaging material prior to filling of the containers formed of the packaging material. Various devices and arrangements are used to sterilize containers in form, fill and seal packaging machines. One common arrangement includes a vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) sterilization system. Such systems are normally closed loop systems that include both a vaporizer and a dryer.
The hydrogen peroxide sterilant of VHP sterilization systems consists of hydrogen peroxide and water (normally 35% to 50% by mass hydrogen peroxide). The hydrogen peroxide is somewhat unstable and can break down into water and oxygen. Upon breaking down, the oxygen forms small bubbles. These bubbles may accumulate and form larger bubbles. VHP units have a vaporizer that converts the liquid sterilant into vapor. Bubbles flowing through the vaporizer cause a momentary reduction in the hydrogen peroxide concentration at the vaporizer outlet. Since most VHP units are used in enclosed spaces with sufficient volume having a relatively long decontamination time, the short duration of lower hydrogen peroxide concentration does not affect the overall bio-burden reduction. However, in package decontamination processes, the exposure time may be a matter of one or two seconds. Bubbles being formed in the injection lines on aseptic packaging units reduce momentarily the hydrogen peroxide concentration, creating a situation where the packages may not be sufficiently decontami- nated.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the above one object of the present invention is to design a bubble eliminator to be used in the liquid sterilant lines of VHP decontamination equipment. According to the invention a bubble eliminator in the form of an enclosure is formed. The enclosure has an inlet and an outlet for the liquid sterilant. Furthermore, a number of small hollow tubes are placed in the enclosure. The function of the tubes is to attract entrained air in the sterilant.
The bubble eliminator is designed for use with hydrogen peroxide at flow rates much lower than are normally used in water units. Since hydrogen peroxide is some- what unstable and can be broken down when exposed to catalytic surfaces, the bubble eliminator contains materials that are not catalytic to peroxide. It also has means to expel the accumulated air bubbles to prevent them from re-entering the liquid sterilant.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art from reading the detailed description below.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will be described further below by way of example and with reference to the enclosed drawing.
Fig. l is a sketch of a liquid peroxide bubble eliminator according to the pre- sent invention.
Detailed description of Preferred Embodiments
A liquid peroxide bubble eliminator according to the present invention is to be placed in a liquid sterilant line of VHP (vaporized hydrogen peroxide) equipment. The eliminator comprises an enclosure 1, with an inlet 2 and an outlet 3. The inlet 2 receives a flow of liquid sterilant 10, in the form of hydrogen peroxide. The flow of liquid sterilant leaves the enclosure 1 by means of the outlet 3.
A perforated plate 4 is placed inside the enclosure 1 , giving an upper space above the perforated plate 4 and a lower space below the perforated plate 4. The inlet 2 and the outlet 3 open into the lower space of the enclosure 1. In the upper space of the enclosure 1, i.e. above the perforated plate 4, a float switch 5 is arranged. The liquid sterilant 10 partially fills the enclosure 1 up to a level above the perforated plate 4. Above the liquid sterilant 10 a gas 11 in the form of air is enclosed. The float switch 5 controls a valve 6, expelling air (gas 11) in its open condition. In the lower space of the enclosure 1 a number of small hollow tubes 7 are placed. The tubes 7 are held enclosed by the walls and bottom of the enclosure 1 and the perforated plate 4.
The enclosure 1 is made of a material that is non-catalytic to peroxide, such as polycarbonate. Also the tubes 7 and the perforated plate 4 are made of a material that is non-catalytic to peroxide, such as polycarbonate. In the hydrogen peroxide entering the enclosure 1 by means of the inlet 2 air bubbles 8 are entrained. The air bubbles 8 are formed when the somewhat unstable hydrogen peroxide breaks down. It is beneficial if such air bubbles 8 are removed before the sterilant reaches a vaporizer, normally arranged in VHP equipments. The air bubbles 8 that is entrained in the liquid sterilant attaches to the tubes 7 of the lower space. As the air accumulates on each tube 7, larger air bubbles are formed when the smaller bubbles come in close proximity to one another. The larger bubbles work there way through the tubes 7 and are eliminated once a sufficient volume has accumulated. Thus, the larger formed air bubbles 8 will lift towards the top of the enclo- sure 1 and through the perforated plate 4.
The float switch 5 at the upper space of the enclosure 1 is used to open the valve 6 to expel accumulated air. The perforated plate 4 prevents the tubes 7 of the lower space from interfering with the operation of the float switch 5. When the volume of gas 11, above the liquid/gas interface, is sufficient to reduce the buoyancy on the float switch 5, the float drops, thereby closing an electrical switch 9 that energizes the valve 6. The valve 6 opens and expels the gas 11 until the buoyancy of the float is sufficient to lift the float switch 5, thereby opening the electrical switch 9, deenergizing (closing) the valve 6.
To achieve the desired effect, that all the incoming air bubbles 8 are collected and will not pass out through the outlet 3, the tubes 7 should be dimensioned in a suitable way. Thus, by amending the number of tubes 7, the tube lengths, and/or the inner and outer diameter of the tubes 7, it is possible to control the capacity to collect the bubbles 8. The tube length and the inner and outer diameters of the tubes 7 should be sized to promote accumulation of the bubbles. In one embodiment the dimensions of each tube 7 was as follows: length 18 mm, outer diameter 9.5 mm and inner diameter 6.2 mm. Furthermore, the enclosure 1 must be sized to ensure that fluid velocity is sufficiently slow for the bubbles 8 to work their way toward the top of the enclosure 1.

Claims

1. A bubble eliminator of a liquid sterilization system, comprising an enclosure
(1) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for a flow of liquid sterilant (10), characterized in that a number of small hollow tubes (7) are placed in the enclosure (1) that has a perforated plate (4) separating the enclosure (1) into an upper space and a lower space and wherein the perforations of the perforated plate (4) are big enough to let air bubbles (8) formed in the lower space of the enclosure (1) through.
2. The bubble eliminator of claim 1, wherein the tubes (7) are placed in the lower space of the enclosure (1), below the perforated plate (4), and wherein the inlet
(2) and outlet (3) are placed in the lower space of the enclosure (1).
3. The bubble eliminator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the enclosure (1) is filled with the liquid sterilant (10) up to a level above the perforated plate (4).
4. The bubble eliminator of any of the claims 1-3, wherein a float switch (5) is placed in the upper space of the enclosure (1), on top of the liquid sterilant (10).
5. The bubble eliminator of claim 4, wherein the float switch (5) controls a valve (6) to expel accumulated air.
6. The bubble eliminator of claim 5, wherein the float switch controls an electrical switch (9) controlling the valve (6).
7. The bubble eliminator of any of the claims 1-6, wherein the enclosure (1), the tubes (7) and the perforated plate (4) are made of a material that is non-catalytic to the liquid sterilant.
8. The bubble eliminator of claim 7, wherein the enclosure (1), the tubes (7) and the perforated plate (4) are made of polycarbonate.
9. The bubble eliminator of any of the previous claims, wherein the sterilant consists of hydrogen peroxide and water.
EP10721005A 2009-06-01 2010-05-21 Liquid bubble eliminator Withdrawn EP2437794A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0900740A SE533836C2 (en) 2009-06-01 2009-06-01 Liquid bubble eliminator
PCT/EP2010/003135 WO2010139406A1 (en) 2009-06-01 2010-05-21 Liquid bubble eliminator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2437794A1 true EP2437794A1 (en) 2012-04-11

Family

ID=42320781

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10721005A Withdrawn EP2437794A1 (en) 2009-06-01 2010-05-21 Liquid bubble eliminator

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2437794A1 (en)
SE (1) SE533836C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2010139406A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070253859A1 (en) * 2006-05-01 2007-11-01 Steris Inc. Hydrogen peroxide vaporizer

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL8900857A (en) * 1989-04-06 1990-11-01 Flamco Bv DEVICE FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM LIQUID AND DRAINING THE RELEASED GAS.
DE59604256D1 (en) * 1995-09-11 2000-02-24 Stuecklin & Cie Ag Fuellinsdor WATER CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR DEGASSING AND / OR DESOLVERING WATER IN PIPES
US6906296B2 (en) * 2002-06-12 2005-06-14 Steris Inc. Electromagnetically responsive heating apparatus for vaporizer
US7700056B2 (en) * 2006-08-10 2010-04-20 American Sterilizer Company Modular decontamination system
ITMI20071700A1 (en) * 2007-08-29 2009-02-28 Stel S N C Dell Ing Ermete Riv UNIDIRECTIONAL GRAVITY VALVE FOR THE AUTOMATIC EXPULSION OF GASEOUS BUBBLES FROM A CIRCULATING LIQUID IN CAPILLARY TUBES

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070253859A1 (en) * 2006-05-01 2007-11-01 Steris Inc. Hydrogen peroxide vaporizer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE0900740A1 (en) 2010-12-02
WO2010139406A1 (en) 2010-12-09
SE533836C2 (en) 2011-02-01

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