Apparatus and method for generating, controlling, and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor

Abstract

The apparatus for generating, controlling, and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor includes an injection chamber (1), an inlet valve (10), an outlet valve (11), a chamber pressure reduction valve (9), an injection chamber pressure sensor (3), an injection valve (2), a hydrogen peroxide supply line (16), a carrier medium supply line (13), and an application line (15). A required amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide (8) is injected via the injection valve (2) into the hot injection surface of the closed, heated, and depressurized injection chamber (1) in the chamber (12) to change the state of the hydrogen peroxide from liquid to gas. The accuracy of the injection amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide (8) is then assessed by measuring the pressure rise in the injection chamber (1), and the required amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor is generated at the desired concentration.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for generating, controlling, and applying small, precise amounts of hydrogen peroxide vapor for the purpose of sterilizing objects, equipment, and facilities. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, objects and premises are sterilized using continuous hydrogen peroxide vapor generators that can generate vapor continuously without recording the amount of vapor generated. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides an apparatus and method for generating, controlling, and dispensing hydrogen peroxide vapor doses for sterilization purposes where small, precise amounts of hydrogen peroxide vapor are required. The apparatus generates a dose of vapor by injecting a precise amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide into a hot surface of an injection chamber using various parameters for each dose of vapor. After the liquid hydrogen peroxide is injected, pressure rises within the injection chamber. The pressure value indicates the required amount of hydrogen peroxide content in the generated dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor. The apparatus allows for the individual generation of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for generating, controlling, and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor, and is also an annotated drawing. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows the injection valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It should be understood that the device structure of the present invention is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting its technical design. Those skilled in the art will be able to ascertain many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the present invention using no more than routine experimentation. Equivalents of the constructed device and its parts are also intended to be within the scope of the claims. Because optimally designing the structure and selecting its elements is not a problem for those skilled in the art, these features are not described in detail herein.

[0006] The apparatus and method for generating, controlling, and dispensing a dose of peroxide vapor shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed by injection chamber 1, inlet valve 10, outlet valve 11, chamber pressure reduction valve 9, injection chamber pressure sensor 3, injection valve 2, hydrogen peroxide supply line 16, carrier medium supply line 13, and application line 15. Injection chamber 1 is designed as a pressure-sealed vessel equipped with injection chamber heater 5 and injection chamber temperature sensor 4. Injection valve 2 is disposed within injection chamber 1 and faces chamber injection surface 12. Injection valve 2 terminates in injection valve nozzle 19 equipped with injection valve needle 17 and injection valve seat 18. The apparatus also includes liquid hydrogen peroxide pressure tank 6 equipped with liquid hydrogen peroxide pressure sensor 7 and application line 15.

[0007] The operating cycle of the device of the present invention begins with the opening of chamber pressure reduction valve 9, which allows the pressure in heated injection chamber 1 to equalize with ambient pressure via pressure reduction line 14. After the pressure set point is recorded by injection chamber pressure sensor 3, chamber pressure reduction valve 9 is closed, and injection chamber 1 is pressure sealed.

[0008] Liquid hydrogen peroxide pressure tank 6 is maintained at a pressure greater than the pressure in injection chamber 1, above liquid hydrogen peroxide level 8, by a compressed air supply line for hydrogen peroxide tank 22. The required amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 is injected into injection chamber 1 by opening injection valve 2. Injection of liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 into the chamber's hot injection surface 12 changes the state of the hydrogen peroxide from liquid to gas, forming the desired amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor at the desired concentration. After liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 is injected into the chamber's hot injection surface 12, the pressure in injection chamber 1 increases.

[0009] By measuring this pressure increase with the injection chamber pressure sensor 3, the device according to the invention assesses whether the required amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 has been injected.

[0010] When the device of the present invention assesses that the proper amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 has been injected, the device continues its predetermined operating cycle. By opening intake valve 10 and exhaust valve 11, carrier medium begins to flow through carrier medium supply line 1 into injection chamber 1, filling it with new carrier medium. This medium pushes the generated dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor through exhaust valve 11 and application line 15 to the desired application location of hydrogen peroxide vapor 21.

[0011] The duty cycle is repeated to generate another amount of peroxide vapor.

[0012] If the device according to the invention assesses that an incorrect amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 has been injected into the injection chamber 1, the operating cycle is started from the beginning.

[0013] A change in the dose density of the peroxide vapor produced by the device according to the present invention can be achieved by changing the individual parameters for the injection of liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 into the injection chamber 1, namely the injection pressure of the liquid hydrogen peroxide 8, the opening length of the injection valve 2, the temperature of the injection chamber 1 and the temperature of the chamber injection surface 12, the pressure of the carrier medium with which the injection chamber 1 is cleaned, and the length of cleaning of the injection chamber 1.

[0014] It is particularly important to maintain a precise and constant temperature at the chamber injection surface 12. Because liquid hydrogen peroxide 8 is injected into this chamber injection surface 12, the chamber injection surface 12 cools rapidly and requires special access for heating.

[0015] Proper application of the hydrogen peroxide vapor to the desired hydrogen peroxide vapor application location requires that the application line 15 and all surfaces of the piping and valves that come into contact with the hydrogen peroxide vapor be properly maintained at the proper temperature.

[0016] The structure and method of vapor dose generation, control and application make the device suitable for generating vapor not only from hydrogen peroxide, but also from other liquid substances and compounds.

[0017] (Terminology explanation) Carrier medium: Compressed gas (air, nitrogen, etc.) Intake valve: closes the carrier medium supply line Discharge valve: Separates the injection chamber from the application line. Chamber pressure reducing valve—Isolates the injection chamber from the external environment. Sterilization: The process of destroying all microorganisms in a given environment, object, or equipment Condensation: the physical process that turns a gas into a liquid [Explanation of symbols]

[0018] 1: Injection chamber 2: Injection valve 3: Injection chamber pressure sensor 4: Injection chamber temperature sensor 5: Heating section of the injection chamber 6: Liquid hydrogen peroxide pressure tank 7: Liquid hydrogen peroxide pressure sensor 8: Liquid hydrogen peroxide 9: Chamber pressure reducing valve 10: Intake valve 11: Exhaust valve 12: Injection surface of the chamber 13: Carrier medium supply line 14: Pressure reduction line 15: Coating line 16: Hydrogen peroxide supply line 17: Injection valve needle 18: Injection valve seat 19: Injection valve nozzle 20: Coating line heating section 21: Peroxide vapor application site 22: Compressed air supply line to peroxide tank

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for generating, controlling, and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor, comprising: The device comprises an injection chamber (1), an intake valve (10), an exhaust valve (11), a pressure reducing valve (9), an injection chamber pressure sensor (3), an injection valve (2), a hydrogen peroxide supply line (16), a carrier medium supply line (13), and an application line (15). An apparatus for generating, controlling, and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor.

2. when the injection valve (2) is opened or closed, the injection valve needle (17) moves within the injection valve nozzle (19), thereby mechanically cleaning the wall of the injection valve nozzle (19). An apparatus for generating, controlling, and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor.

3. 1. A method for generating, controlling and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor with a device according to the present invention, comprising: The injection valve (2) is closed, and the required amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide (8) is injected onto the hot injection surface of the heated and depressurized chamber (12) of the injection chamber (1), thereby changing the state of the hydrogen peroxide from liquid to gas; The accuracy of the injection of the liquid hydrogen peroxide (8) is then assessed by measuring the pressure rise in the injection chamber (1), A desired amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor is produced at a desired concentration; A method for generating, controlling and applying a dose of hydrogen peroxide vapor with a device according to the present invention.

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