JPH1078147A - Ball valve for germ-free line - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the characteristic of the ball side surface part of a ball valve apt to be subjected to a temperature rise failure by providing a passage for passing steam between the ball side surface of the ball valve and the body of the ball valve. SOLUTION: Steam is supplied from a steam inlet 8 and passed through a groove 9, and the condensed water of steam is discharged from a discharge port 10. At this time, it is necessary to lay out the steam inlet 8, the groove 9 and the discharge port 10 so that the condensed water not discharged from the discharge port 10 is not stayed in the passage of steam, and the steam is carried from above to down. Consequently, a temperature rise failure is reduced, whereby the production failure by bacterial contamination caused by the temperature rise failure can be reduced. The opening and closing frequency of the ball valve in sterilization can be reduced, and the life of the valve can be extended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of sterilizing piping used in a pharmaceutical plant or the like and requiring sterilization, and a ball valve for an aseptic line suitable for use in the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an industrial plant, particularly in a pharmaceutical or food plant, it is necessary to avoid contamination of products with various bacteria. Therefore, in these plants, the contents and the equipment piping are sterilized so that unnecessary bacteria are not mixed (for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-92299).

[0003] Sterilization of equipment piping is performed, for example, by the following method. First, the contents in the pipe are discharged. Next, steam is flowed to raise the temperature in the pipe. Close the pipe outlet as it is, keep the temperature and pressure in the pipe, but sometimes open the pipe outlet and the branch point valve where the condensed water accumulates in the pipe, discharge the condensed water accumulated in the pipe, Prevent drop. The temperature is raised for the temperature and time (for example, 121 ° C., 15 minutes) at which the germs in the piping are killed. Thereafter, the sterilized equipment piping is cooled by the sterilized air to complete the sterilization.

[0004] In sterilization of equipment piping, it is important to raise the temperature of all parts in contact with the process to a sufficient temperature. If there is an insufficient temperature rising part, sterilization becomes poor and various bacteria grow throughout the plant. Cause.

[0005]

In the design of equipment piping to be sterilized, a steam flow path and a condensed water discharge path are secured so that the equipment piping is sufficiently heated by steam. However, there is a portion where the temperature rise is likely to be defective.

When a ball valve installed in a pipe is opened, the flow path becomes straight, and there is no step with the pipe so that a liquid pool cannot be formed. However, when the valve installed in the middle part of the pipe to be sterilized is opened and sterilized, the portion in contact with the process liquid (the ball side surface of the ball valve) does not directly contact the steam when the valve is closed. In the case of a small ball valve, the temperature is sufficiently raised by heat transfer from steam flowing through the inner surface of the ball, but in the case of a large ball valve, the temperature may not be sufficiently raised. In such a case, it was necessary to repeatedly open and close the valve during sterilization to bring the side surface of the ball into contact with steam. However,
It is not always in contact with steam, leaving the possibility of poor temperature rise.Repeating the opening and closing of the valve while hot steam is flowing is a heavy burden on the ball seal and extends the life of the seal. It was causing the shortening.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ball valve having a structure for sufficiently raising the temperature of a ball side surface portion of a ball valve which has been liable to have a temperature rise failure.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a flow path for flowing steam is provided between a ball side surface of a ball valve and a ball valve body.

As a method of providing a steam flow path, a groove is provided on a surface of the ball valve body which is in contact with the ball, and steam flows through the groove to raise the temperature of the side surface of the ball. Further, a steam supply nozzle and a condensed water discharge port are provided so that condensed water does not accumulate and cause a temperature rise failure.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1: FIGS. 1 and 2 show a structural view of an embodiment of a ball valve according to the present invention. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a plan view. This ball valve is used in a horizontal arrangement, and a groove 9 for flowing steam is provided on the side surface of the ball. A ball 3 is provided between the bodies 1 and 2. The ball 3 is sealed by ball seats 4 and 5 and is rotated 90 degrees by the drive shaft 6. The drive shaft 6 is sealed between the bodies 1 and 2 by a drive shaft packing 7. The ball 3 has a hole having the same diameter as the flow path of the body 1 or 2, and the flow path is opened and closed by rotating the ball 3 at the position of the hole. The description so far is the same as the structure of a general ball valve.

The aseptic line ball valve in this embodiment has a structure for raising the temperature of the side surface of the ball with the valve being open, and has a steam inlet 8 and a groove 9 having a flow path for sufficiently flowing steam to the side surface of the valve. Outlet 1 for discharging condensed water
0 is provided.

When sterilizing the pipe in which the valve is installed while the valve is open, steam is supplied from the steam inlet 8 and condensed water of the steam is discharged from the outlet 10 through the groove 9. At this time, it is necessary to lay out the steam inlet 8, the groove 9, and the outlet 10 so that condensed water that is not discharged from the outlet 10 does not remain in the steam flow path and the steam flows from top to bottom.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a ball valve when used in a vertical arrangement. The ball 3 is arranged between the bodies 1 and 2. Ball 3 is ball seat 4,
5 and rotated 90 degrees by the drive shaft 6. The drive shaft 6 is sealed between the bodies 1 and 2 by a drive shaft packing 7. The ball 3 has a hole having the same diameter as the flow path of the body 1 or 2, and the flow path is opened and closed by rotating the ball 3 at the position of the hole. Up to this point, it is the same as a general ball valve.

The aseptic line ball valve of this embodiment has a structure for raising the temperature of the side surface of the ball with the valve open.
A steam inlet 8, a groove 9 having a flow path enough to allow steam to flow to the side of the valve, and a discharge port 10 for discharging condensed water are provided.

When sterilizing the pipe in which the valve is installed while the valve is open, steam is supplied from the steam inlet 8 and condensed water of the steam is discharged from the outlet 10 through the groove 9. At this time, it is necessary to lay out the steam inlet 8, the groove 9, and the outlet 10 so that condensed water that is not discharged from the outlet 10 does not remain in the steam flow path and the steam flows from top to bottom.

[0016]

According to the present invention, as compared with a conventional ball valve which is liable to be defective in temperature rise, defective defects in temperature rise are reduced, thereby reducing defective production due to contamination by various bacteria caused by defective temperature rise. In addition, since the number of times the ball valve is opened and closed during sterilization can be reduced, the life of the valve is prolonged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a ball valve for a sterile line according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment of the aseptic line ball valve according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, ... body, 3 ... ball, 4, 5 ... ball seat,
6 ... drive shaft, 7 ... drive shaft packing, 8 ... steam inlet, 9 ... groove, 10 ... outlet.

Claims (2)

[Claims] A steam flow path is provided between a ball side surface of a ball valve and a body, and when steam is sterilized in a pipe, steam flows between the ball and the body to raise the temperature of the ball valve side surface. A ball valve, characterized in that: 2. A sterilization method using the ball valve according to claim 1, wherein the piping and the side surface of the ball valve are sterilized at the same time when the piping is sterilized.