GB1069634A - Improvements in or relating to the sterilization of goods - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of sterilizing a batch of goods in a sealed chamber by means of steam comprises first removing as much air as possible from the said sealed chamber through an auxiliary chamber in which air is trapped and in which the heat absorption characteristics of the batch of goods to be sterilized is simulated, then cooling said auxiliary chamber to a temperature equal to or below that of the goods to be sterilized, and then introducing steam into said sealed chamber and thence through the auxiliary chamber with removal of condensate until the temperature in the lower portion of the latter has been at a pre-determined value for a pre-determined period of time, and finally removing steam from said sealed chamber with admission of air before removal of the goods from the sterilizing chamber. Apparatus for carrying out said method comprises a sterilizing chamber having connections for the supply of steam and for the discharge of air, steam and water, an auxiliary chamber containing means which simulate the heat absorption characteristics of the batch of goods to be sterilized, and having its top in communication with said sterilizing chamber and its bottom, by way of a water-lock, in communication with a condensate discharge conduit, and at a height above the bottom of said auxiliary chamber approximately equal to half the diameter of the batch of goods to be sterilized also in communication with an air and steam discharge conduit, a thermometer positioned close above the water level of said waterlock, and means for removal of steam from said sterilizing chamber, which is preferably a condenser. The auxiliary chamber may be incorporated in said condenser and the cooling tubes of said condenser then constitute the batch-simulating body.