WO2022007916A1

WO2022007916A1 - Online testing method for integrity of sterilizing filter element

Info

Publication number: WO2022007916A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/105362
Authority: WO
Inventors: 陆健锋; 田夫鹏; 周卫林
Original assignee: 江苏新美星包装机械股份有限公司
Priority date: 2020-07-09
Filing date: 2021-07-09
Publication date: 2022-01-13
Also published as: CN111896422A

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is an online testing method for integrity of a sterilizing filter element. The method comprises the following steps: (1) introducing liquid into an upper chamber of a filter that is provided with a sterilizing filter element therein until a water film is adhered to the surface of the sterilizing filter element, and discharging the excess liquid in the upper chamber; (2) introducing sterile gas into the upper chamber until the air pressure in the upper chamber is stabilized at P ₁; (3) after a period of time, measuring to obtain the air pressure value P ₂ in the upper chamber, and comparing the difference ΔP between P₁ and P ₂ and a set value P ₀: if ΔP < P ₀, the integrity of the sterilizing filter element meets the standard; if ΔP ≧ P ₀, the integrity of the sterilizing filter element does not meet the standard. The online testing method for integrity of a sterilizing filter element of the present invention can realize the online testing for integrity of a sterilizing filter element, and the test is highly efficient and low-cost.

Description

A kind of online detection method for the integrity of sterilization filter element

technical field

The invention relates to the field of liquid sterilization and filtration, in particular to an on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilization filter element.

Background technique

Whether in the beverage industry or in the medical industry, terminal sterilization filter elements are more and more widely used, and the integrity of the terminal sterilization filter element is directly related to product safety. During the use process, the integrity of the sterilization filter element may be damaged, resulting in sterilization efficiency. Drop, integrity testing is an important method to judge the integrity of the sterilization filter.

In the prior art, an off-line detection method is generally adopted. The sterilizing filter element is taken out from the filter of the production line, placed in a special filter or holder for laboratory testing, and connected to an integrity detector for detection. Or use the online manual connection test, move the integrity tester to the vicinity of the filter of the production line, connect the integrity tester to the filter, and then start the integrity tester for inspection. All of the above methods need to manually connect the integrity detector, the test efficiency is low, and the test cost is relatively high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an online detection method for the integrity of the sterilization filter element, which can realize the online detection of the integrity of the sterilization filter element, with high detection efficiency and low detection cost.

To achieve the above object, the technical scheme adopted in the present invention is:

An on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element, comprising the following steps:

(1) Pour liquid into the upper chamber of the filter with the sterilization filter element inside, until a layer of water film is attached to the surface of the sterilization filter element, stop the introduction of the liquid, and put the upper chamber into the upper chamber. Excess fluid drains;

(2) introduce sterile gas into the upper chamber, stop the sterile gas from being introduced after the air pressure in the upper chamber is stabilized at P _1;

(3) After waiting for a period of time, the air pressure in the upper chamber is measured to be P ₂ , _{and the difference ΔP between P 1} and P ₂ is compared with the set value P ₀ :

When ΔP<P ₀ , the integrity of the sterilization filter element reaches the standard;

When ΔP≥P ₀ , the integrity of the sterilizing filter element is not up to standard.

Preferably, in step (1), the first upper chamber communicating with the outside atmospheric pressure, after _1, the time T on a liquid filled chamber; then the upper chamber with the outside atmospheric pressure is disconnected, after time T _2, the filtering surface of the cartridge attached to a layer of water film.

More preferably, in step (1), T ₁ is 3-5 minutes.

More preferably, in step (1), T ₂ is 20-30 minutes.

Preferably, in step (3), the waiting time is 10-20 minutes.

Preferably, in step (1), the liquid flows into the lower chamber of the filter through the sterilizing filter element, and the liquid in the lower chamber is discharged.

Preferably, after step (3), the upper chamber is communicated with the external atmospheric pressure, and the sterile gas therein is exhausted.

Preferably, in step (1), the liquid flowing from the filter to the sterile water outlet is intercepted, and after step (3), when the integrity of the sterilizing filter element reaches the standard, the liquid output from the filter is allowed to into the sterile water outlet.

Preferably, in step (2), the low-pressure gas is passed into the upper chamber after being sterilized and filtered.

Due to the application of the above-mentioned technical solutions, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: an on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element of the present invention, by directly feeding liquid into the upper chamber of the working filter in turn and low-pressure gas to conduct on-line detection of the integrity of the sterilization filter element, which not only improves the detection efficiency, but also reduces the detection cost.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the detection equipment used in the method of the present invention.

Among them: 1. Filter; 2. Sterilizing filter element; 3. Buffer water tank; 4. First pipeline; 5. Low-pressure gas inlet; 6. Second pipeline; 7. Sterile water outlet; 8. Third Pipeline; 9. Delivery pump; 10. The first pneumatic valve; 11. The first liquid discharge pipeline; 12. The second pneumatic valve; 13. The gas sterilization filter device; 14. The third pneumatic valve; Valve; 16, the fourth pneumatic valve; 17, the second liquid discharge pipeline; 18, the fifth pneumatic valve; 19, the exhaust pipeline; 20, the pressure sensor; 21, the sixth pneumatic valve; 22, the programmable logic control 23. Data acquisition and computing system.

detailed description

The technical solutions of the present invention will be further elaborated below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, the filter 1 to be tested is equipped with a sterilization filter element 2, and the sterilization filter element 2 divides the interior of the filter 1 into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the upper chamber is used for liquid feeding, and the lower chamber is used for liquid feeding. It is used for effusion. The buffer water tank 3 is communicated with the upper chamber of the filter 1 through the first pipeline 4, the low-pressure gas inlet 5 is communicated with the upper chamber of the filter 1 through the second pipeline 6, and the sterile water outlet 7 is through the third pipeline. 8 communicates with the lower chamber of the filter 1 .

The first pipeline 4 is connected with the delivery pump 9 on the side of the buffer water tank 3, the first pneumatic valve 10 on the filter 1 side, and the first drain pipeline between the delivery pump 9 and the first pneumatic valve 10. 11. A second pneumatic valve 12 is provided on the first liquid discharge pipeline 11 . The buffer water tank 3 inputs liquid into the upper chamber of the filter 1 through the first pipeline 4, and the delivery pump is used to provide the delivery power of the liquid.

The second pipeline 6 is connected with a gas sterilization filter device 13 , a third pneumatic valve 14 and an electric proportional valve 15 arranged between the gas sterilization filter device 13 and the low-pressure gas inlet 5 , and a third gas sterilization filter device 13 . and the fourth pneumatic valve 16 between the filter 1. The low-pressure gas inlet 5 inputs low-pressure sterile gas into the upper chamber of the filter 1 through the second pipeline 6, and the low-pressure sterile gas is obtained by filtering the low-pressure gas output from the low-pressure gas inlet through the gas sterilization filtering device 13. The electrical proportional valve 15 is used to adjust the flow of low pressure gas.

The third pipeline 8 is connected with a second liquid discharge pipeline 17 located between the sterile water outlet 7 and the filter 1 , and a fifth pneumatic valve 18 is provided on the second liquid discharge 17 pipeline. In the non-detection state, close the fifth pneumatic valve 18, and the liquid in the lower chamber of the filter 1 enters the sterile water outlet 7 through the third pipeline 8 for use; in the detection state, open the fifth pneumatic valve 18. The liquid in the lower chamber of the filter 1 is discharged through the second liquid discharge pipeline 17 .

The upper chamber of the filter 1 is connected with an exhaust pipeline 19 and a pressure sensor 20 , and a sixth pneumatic valve 21 is provided on the exhaust pipeline 19 . When sterile gas is introduced into the upper chamber through the second pipeline 6, the electrical proportional valve 15 is adjusted according to the value of the pressure sensor 20, so that the pressure in the upper chamber rises slowly, so as to avoid the water film on the surface of the sterilization filter element 2 due to Boost too fast and burst.

During normal operation, the filter 1 is used to filter the liquid in the buffer water tank 3 and deliver it to the sterile water outlet 7; During detection, the communication state between the low-pressure gas inlet 5 and the filter 1 is restored, and there is no need to additionally access other detection equipment, the detection efficiency is high, and the detection cost is low.

An on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilization filter element is realized by the above-mentioned detection equipment, and the integrity is judged according to the diffusion speed of the gas on the surface of the wet sterilization filter element 2, comprising the following steps:

(1) Open the fifth pneumatic valve 18 to make the lower chamber of the filter 1 communicate with the second drainage pipeline 17 , so as to intercept the liquid leading to the sterile water outlet 7 .

(2) Open the delivery pump 9 and the first pneumatic valve 10, close the second pneumatic valve 12, and pass liquid into the upper chamber of the filter 1 through the buffer water tank 3; atmospheric pressure chamber in communication with the outside, so that the liquid can be introduced into the upper chamber via the gas exhaust line 19 is completely discharged outward, to avoid wetting sterilization filter 2 is not complete, the elapsed time T _1, the liquid filled chamber; then close the pneumatic valve 21 the sixth, the upper chamber with the outside atmospheric pressure is disconnected after _2, surface sterilized water film cartridge 2 is attached to a layer of time T; closed delivery pump 9, a first open Two pneumatic valves 12, to discharge the excess liquid in the upper chamber from the first liquid discharge pipeline 11;

In this embodiment, T ₁ is 3-5 minutes, at this time, the liquid can completely fill the upper chamber; T ₂ is 20-30 minutes, at this time, a layer of water film can be attached to the surface of the sterilizing filter element 2;

During the wetting process, since the liquid flows into the lower chamber of the filter 1 through the sterilizing filter element 2 , the liquid in the lower chamber is discharged into the second liquid discharge pipeline 17 .

(3) Open the third pneumatic valve 14 and the fourth pneumatic valve 16, and introduce low-pressure sterile gas into the upper chamber (obtained by the low-pressure gas after passing through the gas sterilizing filter device 13, which can avoid contamination of the sterilizing filter element 2), according to Numerical electrical pressure sensor 20 is proportional regulating valve 15, the pressure in the upper chamber rises slowly until the pressure in the chamber stabilized at P ₁ (measured by the pressure sensor 20), closing the third pneumatic valve 14 and Four pneumatic valves 16, stop the introduction of low-pressure sterile gas.

(4) Under the _{pressure of P 1} , the sterile gas diffuses freely on the water film on the surface of the sterilizing filter element 2. After waiting for 10-20 minutes, the pressure value in the upper chamber is measured by the pressure sensor 20 to obtain the value of P ₂ . The difference ΔP between P ₁ and P ₂ is compared with the set value P ₀ :

When △ P <P _0, the instructions on the chamber pressure decreases slowly, the integrity of the standard sterilization filter 2;

When △P≥P ₀ , it means that the air pressure in the upper chamber drops rapidly, and the integrity of the sterilization filter element 2 is not up to the standard.

(5) After the test is completed, open the sixth pneumatic valve 21, connect the upper chamber to the outside atmospheric pressure, discharge the sterile gas therein, and then close the sixth pneumatic valve 21.

(6) when the integrity of the sterilizing filter element 2 is up to standard, the fifth pneumatic valve 18 is closed, so that the liquid output in the lower chamber of the filter 1 can be output through the sterile water outlet 7 to maintain a normal working state;

When the integrity of the sterilization filter element 2 is not up to standard, the sterilization filter element 2 can be replaced.

Referring to Fig. 1 , the above-mentioned detection equipment further includes an editable logic controller 22 and a data acquisition and calculation system 23, wherein the editable logic controller 22 is used for the control of pumps and valves in the detection process; the data acquisition and calculation system 23 It is used for data acquisition and calculation in the detection process, and to judge the detection result. Before the detection starts, input the set value P ₀ into the data acquisition and calculation system 23 .

The above-mentioned embodiments are only to illustrate the technical concept and characteristics of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable those who are familiar with the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it, and cannot limit the scope of protection of the present invention with this, all according to the spirit of the present invention Substantially equivalent changes or modifications should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

An on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element, comprising the following steps:

(1) Pour liquid into the upper chamber of the filter with the sterilization filter element inside, until a layer of water film is attached to the surface of the sterilization filter element, stop the introduction of the liquid, and put the upper chamber into the upper chamber. Excess fluid drains;

(2) introduce sterile gas into the upper chamber, stop the sterile gas from being introduced after the air pressure in the upper chamber is stabilized at P 1;

(3) After waiting for a period of time, the air pressure in the upper chamber is measured to be P 2 , and the difference ΔP between P 1 and P 2 is compared with the set value P 0 :

When ΔP<P 0 , the integrity of the sterilization filter element reaches the standard;

When ΔP≥P 0 , the integrity of the sterilization filter element is not up to standard;

In step (1), the first upper chamber communicating with the outside atmospheric pressure, after 1, the time T on a liquid filled chamber; then the upper chamber with the outside atmospheric pressure is disconnected, the elapsed time T After 2 , a layer of the water film is attached to the surface of the sterilization filter element; wherein, T 1 is 3-5 minutes, and T 2 is 20-30 minutes;

In step (1), the liquid flows into the lower chamber of the filter through the sterilization filter element, and the liquid in the lower chamber is discharged;

In step (2), the low-pressure gas is passed into the upper chamber after sterile filtration;

In step (3), the waiting time is 10-20 minutes;

After step (3), the upper chamber is communicated with the outside atmospheric pressure, and the sterile gas therein is discharged;

In step (1), the liquid flowing from the filter to the sterile water outlet is intercepted, and after step (3), when the integrity of the sterilizing filter element reaches the standard, the liquid output by the filter is allowed to enter the Sterile water outlet.
An on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element, comprising the following steps:

(1) Pour liquid into the upper chamber of the filter with the sterilization filter element inside, until a layer of water film is attached to the surface of the sterilization filter element, stop the introduction of the liquid, and put the upper chamber into the upper chamber. Excess fluid drains;

(2) introduce sterile gas into the upper chamber, stop the sterile gas from being introduced after the air pressure in the upper chamber is stabilized at P 1;

(3) After waiting for a period of time, the air pressure in the upper chamber is measured to be P 2 , and the difference ΔP between P 1 and P 2 is compared with the set value P 0 :

When ΔP<P 0 , the integrity of the sterilization filter element reaches the standard;

When ΔP≥P 0 , the integrity of the sterilizing filter element is not up to standard.
The method for detecting the integrity of the line sterilization filter element according to claim 2, wherein: in step (1), the first upper chamber communicating with the outside atmospheric pressure, the elapsed time T 1, the liquid fabric the upper chamber is full; then the upper chamber with the outside atmospheric pressure is disconnected after the time T 2, the sterilization filter attached to the surface layer of the water film.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element according to claim 3, characterized in that: in step (1), T 1 is 3-5 minutes.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element according to claim 3, characterized in that: in step (1), T 2 is 20-30 minutes.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element according to claim 2, characterized in that: in step (3), the waiting time is 10-20 minutes.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element according to claim 2, characterized in that: in step (1), the liquid flows into the lower chamber of the filter through the sterilizing filter element, and the liquid is discharged into the lower chamber of the filter. liquid in the lower chamber.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element according to claim 2, characterized in that: after step (3), the upper chamber is communicated with the outside atmospheric pressure, and the sterile gas therein is discharged.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilizing filter element according to claim 2, characterized in that: in step (1), the liquid flowing to the sterile water outlet of the filter is intercepted, and after step (3), When the integrity of the sterilizing filter element reaches the standard, the liquid output from the filter is allowed to enter the sterile water outlet.
The on-line detection method for the integrity of a sterilization filter element according to claim 2, characterized in that: in step (2), the low-pressure gas is passed into the upper chamber after sterilization and filtration.