RU2704320C2 - Apparatus for sterilizing solutions - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to devices for steam sterilization of nutrient media and solutions and can be used in microbiological, food, medical industry and in research practice. Sterilization unit comprises sterilization chamber, loading and storage tanks, steam generator, coil-heat exchanger, liquid level tube, temperature sensors, pipelines with valves and control device. Sterilization chamber is made in the form of a toroid, is equipped with a sterile solution level tube and is placed in the steam generator, wherein the level pipe is interconnected by a pipeline with a valve to the gas cavity of the loading container. Loading container is equipped with a solution level sensor, and the accumulating tank is equipped with a bacterial air filter, a solution level sensor, a coil-heat exchanger and a dosing pump. Steam generator is equipped with a sensor of evaporated water level.EFFECT: invention reduces time and energy costs for solution sterilization, as well as eliminates losses of sterilized solution.1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to devices for steam sterilization of nutrient media and solutions and can be used in the microbiological, food, medical industry and in research practice.

For the sterilization of culture media and solutions, steam autoclaves are widely used. (Website: tuttnauer -lab. Ru). In well-known autoclaves, a steam solution sterilization method is implemented, which is carried out with saturated water vapor at an excess pressure of 0.1 MPa to 0.2 MPa, a temperature of 110 ° C to 130 ° C and a temporary exposure of 30 minutes to 60 minutes.

Known autoclave contains a sterilization chamber immersed in the steam cavity of the steam generator, and a sealed lid.

Before loading the solution into the autoclave, the solution to be sterilized is poured into the bottle, and the neck of the bottle is closed with a cotton plug, which serves as a bacterial air filter.

The bottle of solution prepared for sterilization is loaded into the sterilization chamber of the autoclave and sealed with a lid.

On the autoclave control device, the temperature and time for sterilization of the solution are set and the steam generator is turned on.

In the process of heating water in a steam generator to a vaporization temperature, the air in the autoclave, under the action of the generated steam, is displaced into the atmosphere through a sterilization chamber and an open valve, after which the valve closes, and the steam temperature in the autoclave rises to the set value of the solution sterilization temperature. After the set sterilization time of the solution has elapsed, the water in the steam generator stops heating, and the steam generator and the sterilization chamber are cooled by ambient air while the steam pressure in the sterilization chamber is reduced to atmospheric value. The sealed lid of the autoclave is opened, and a bottle of sterile solution is taken out of the sterilization chamber. This completes the sterilization of the solution in the autoclave.

Despite its wide distribution, the autoclave has significant disadvantages:

- Procedures for preparing the autoclave for work, pouring solutions into bottles and sealing the sterilization chamber with a lid are performed manually, which requires significant time and labor-intensive expenses.

- In the process of heating the bottle with the solution with water vapor, the condensation of steam occurs in the sterilized solution and its unpredictable dilution, which reduces the quality of the solution.

- Cooling the sterilization chamber and restoring the vapor pressure to atmospheric pressure is effected by ambient temperature, which requires time and reduces the performance of the autoclave.

- The autoclave operates under conditions of periodic inclusion, 8 therefore, the water in the steam generator is heated to a predetermined steam temperature each time from a cold state, which increases energy costs.

These shortcomings lead to an increase in non-productive energy costs and reduce the quality of the resulting product.

A known installation for sterilization of liquid media. (RF patent No. 2188038 of 11/22/2000), containing the loading capacity of the initial solution, the dispenser of the initial solution, the sterilization chamber of the solution, the connector for draining the sterile solution, the receiving container for the sterile solution, the capacity for water, the water dispenser, a steam generator, a heater, a sensor pressure sensors, temperature sensors, water level tube, coil-heat exchangers, a network of pipelines with controlled valves and a control device.

The operation of the installation is carried out from a control device made in the form of a microprocessor controller that controls:

- a water dispenser included in the bypass pipe to the steam generator, the principle of which is to purge the dispenser cavity with steam, seal the dispenser, condensate the steam in the dispenser cavity, fill the dispenser cavity with water, and then displace the water into the steam generator under the influence of steam pressure.

- a dispenser for introducing an initial solution into a sterilization chamber, the principle of operation of which is similar to the principle of operation of a dispenser for introducing water into a steam generator.

- mixing the solution during sterilization during steam condensation, carried out by a flow of cold water through a coil-heat exchanger placed in the steam cavity of the sterilization chamber.

- a connector for aseptic discharge of the sterile solution from the sterilization chamber into a receiving container.

According to the authors, the purpose of the known invention is to expand the scope of use of the installation, it is provided:

- continuous operation of the steam generator and sterilization chamber.

- the presence of a connector that ensures the filling of sterile media under aseptic conditions.

- the possibility of using the installation as a device for producing distilled water and generating water vapor.

The installation has the following disadvantages:

- maintaining the water level in the steam generator is carried out by the dispenser according to a temporary algorithm, which leads to idle losses of energy spent on heating and condensing water vapor in the dispenser in the absence of a steam consumer.

- sterilization of the solution is carried out with water vapor, which is injected directly into a predetermined volume of the solution to be sterilized, which leads to unpredictable dilution of the solution with steam condensate, a change in the given concentration of substances and the pH of the solution.

- stirring the solution is carried out by boiling the sterilized solution as a result of a sharp decrease in steam pressure in the sterilization chamber, caused by cooling and condensation of steam during the flow of cold water through the coil-heat exchanger.

- restoration of the sterilization temperature after each cooling requires additional energy costs for displacing cold water from the coil-heat exchanger and heating it to a predetermined sterilization temperature of the solution.

- the sterilization chamber is not protected from cooling by ambient air, which increases the heating time of the solution and energy costs.

These shortcomings lead to an increase in non-production energy costs and significantly reduce the quality of the resulting product.

The purpose of the invention: reducing unproductive energy costs and improving the quality of the resulting product.

To achieve this goal, in the installation for sterilization of liquid media, which includes a sterilization chamber, loading and storage tanks, a steam generator, a coil-heat exchanger, a liquid level tube, temperature sensors, pipelines with valves and a control device, while the sterilization chamber is made in in the form of a torus, equipped with a tube of the level of the solution to be sterilized and placed in the steam generator, the loading tank is equipped with a solution level sensor, the storage tank is equipped with a bacterial air filter xa, a solution level sensor, a coil-heat exchanger and a metering pump, and the steam generator is equipped with a level sensor for the evaporated water, while the level tube is connected by a pipeline with a valve with a gas cavity of the loading tank.

The drawing shows a functional diagram of the claimed installation for sterilization of solutions.

Installation contains:

loading capacity 1 of the initial solution with a level 2 sensor, the upper part of which communicates with the atmosphere, and the bottom part contains a drain hole;

a sterilization chamber 3 provided with a tube 4 of a solution level and a temperature sensor 5,

a steam generator 6 provided with a heater 7, a water level sensor 8 and a temperature sensor 9;

storage tank 10, equipped with a coil-heat exchanger 11, a bacterial air filter 12, a level 13 sensor of a sterile solution, a temperature sensor 14 and a pump 15;

a consumable fitting 16 of a sterile solution with a plug 17;

controlled valves 18-27;

a control device 28 electrically coupled to sensors and actuators.

Before turning the unit on, preparatory procedures are carried out to load water into the steam generator 6 and sterilize the storage tank 10.

From the control device 28, the valves 25, 23 are opened. Through the valve 25, water enters the steam generator 6, and the air in the steam generator is displaced through the valve 23 into the sewer. When water contacts the water level sensor 8, the valve 25 closes and the heater 7 turns on. The water in the steam generator 6 will be heated to a temperature of 100 ° C, measured by the temperature sensor 9, by the signal from which the valve 23 will close, and the temperature in the steam generator 6 will rise to 130 ° C and maintained by turning on / off the heater 7 by the sensor 9.

When the water level in the steam generator 6 drops, the water level sensor 8 will trigger, upon a signal from which the valve 25 for entering the water into the steam generator 6 will open, and the water level in the steam generator will be restored to contact with the sensor 8, after which the valve 25 will close.

After the preparation of the steam generator 6 to work, sterilization of the storage tank 10 is carried out.

The valves 22, 27 are opened from the control device 28 and the pump 15 is turned on. In this position, the steam from the steam generator 6 is introduced into the storage tank 10, heats it with the formation of steam condensate, which, at a given flow rate of the pump 15, is discharged through the valve 27. When the temperature in the storage tank 10 reaches 100 ° C, the pump 15 will turn off and the valve 27 will close, and the temperature in the storage tank 10 will rise to the temperature of the steam in the steam generator 6. After holding the set sterilization time of the storage tank 10, the valve 27 will open and the pump 15 will turn on.

In this position, steam condensate formed in the storage tank 10 during the sterilization process will be discharged for a predetermined time. After the set time has elapsed, the pump 15 will turn off, the valves 22, 27 will close and the valve 21 will open, communicating the storage tank through the bacterial filter 12 with the atmosphere. This completes the preparatory procedures, and the installation is ready for use.

The installation is implemented by the "Process" algorithm.

On the device 28 set:

- the time of introduction of the solution into the sterilization chamber.

- solution sterilization temperature.

- solution sterilization time.

- the time of discharge of the sterile solution into the storage tank.

- the temperature of the solution in the storage tank.

- frequency of switching on the pump.

On the device 28, click "Start".

When START is pressed, valve 18 will open, and in the loading container 1, from the source of the initial solution, the solution will be introduced in the volume determined by the contact of the loaded solution with the level 2 sensor, by the signal from which the valve 18 will close and the valves 19, 20 will open.

The initial solution from the tank 1, through the valve 19, enters the sterilization chamber 3, heated to a temperature of steam in the steam generator 6, while displacing the air from the chamber 3 through the tube 4 and the valve 20 into the air cavity of the loading tank 1.

When the initial solution is drained from the container 1 into the sterilization chamber 3, the contact of the initial solution with the sensor 2 breaks, at the signal of which a temporary pause of 20 minutes is held, after which the valve 18 is opened, and the initial solution is introduced into the loading container 1 until the next operation of the sensor 2 level.

After the set time has elapsed, the input solution into the sterilization chamber 3 is closed, the valve 19 is closed, and the temperature of the solution in the sterilization chamber 3, measured by the temperature sensor 5, will increase to 100 ° C.

The heating of the solution is accompanied by the displacement of air and part of the solution from the chamber 3 through the level 4 tube into the gas cavity of the loading tank 1. When the solution is heated to 100 ° C, the valve 20 closes, and the temperature of the solution in the sterilization chamber 3 rises to the desired solution sterilization temperature.

Maintaining a predetermined temperature for sterilization of the solution in the chamber 3 is carried out by turning on / off the heater 7 by the temperature sensor 5 located in the sterilization chamber 3.

After a predetermined time for sterilization of the solution has elapsed, valve 24 will open, and the sterile solution, under the action of steam pressure in the chamber 3, will be forced out of the sterilization chamber 3 into the storage tank 10 for a predetermined time.

After the set time has elapsed, the sterile solution is drained into the storage tank 10, the valve 24 is closed, the valves 19, 20 open and the cycle of loading and sterilization of the solution in the chamber 3 is repeated, followed by the discharge of the sterile solution from the chamber 3 into the storage tank 10.

In the process of introducing a sterile solution into the storage tank 10, a valve 26 will open for the cold water to flow through the coil 11, while the solution in the storage tank 10 will be cooled to a predetermined temperature measured by the sensor 14.

Maintaining the desired temperature of the solution in the storage tank 10 is carried out by turning on / off the valve 26 through the temperature sensor 14.

The cycles of loading the chamber 3 with the initial solution, sterilization, and introducing the sterile solution into the storage tank 10 will be repeated until the sterile solution contacts the level sensor 13 in the storage tank.

Before shipment of the sterile solution to the consumer, the plug 17 is removed from the nozzle 16, and subject to aseptic conditions, the nozzle 17 is connected to the consumer via a hose. The sterile solution is shipped to the consumer by a pump 15 operating at a given frequency.

If the contact of the sterile solution with the level 13 sensor in the storage tank 10 is broken, the cycle of loading, sterilization and discharge of the sterile solution from the sterilization chamber 3 into the storage tank 10 will be repeated.

The use of new devices and their technological interaction compares favorably with the proposed installation for sterilization of solutions from the specified prototype according to the following distinguishing features:

- during the sterilization of the solution, the steam generator is not loaded with water, which ensures stabilization of the set steam temperature and significantly reduces unproductive energy costs;

- the sterilization chamber is made in the form of a torus and immersed in a steam generator, which significantly expands the heat transfer surface and reduces the thickness of the heated layer of the sterilized solution, thereby reducing the time and energy costs of sterilizing the solution;

- loading of the initial solution is carried out in the heated cavity of the sterilization chamber, which reduces the time to reach the desired sterilization temperature of the solution;

- the volume of the solution to be sterilized is set by the tube of the level at which the excess solution when heated, is displaced from the sterilization chamber back into the loading tank, which eliminates the loss of solution.

- heating the solution in the sterilization chamber is carried out by external exposure to superheated steam, which allows you to maintain the specified quality of the sterilized solution.

- the excess volume of the sterile solution cooled to a predetermined temperature is maintained in the storage tank, which ensures continuous shipment of the sterile solution to the consumer under specified conditions of temperature and flow rate.

Claims (1)

Installation for sterilization of solutions, including: a sterilization chamber, loading and storage tanks, a steam generator, a coil-heat exchanger, a liquid level tube, temperature sensors, pipelines with valves and a control device, characterized in that the sterilization chamber is made in the form of a torus, equipped with a level tube to be sterilized solution and placed in the steam generator, the loading tank is equipped with a solution level sensor, the storage tank is equipped with a bacterial air filter, solution level sensor, a snake ICOM-exchanger and dosing pump, and the steam generator is provided with a level sensor evaporable water, the level of the tube conduit communicates with valve cavity with a gas storage container.

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