Container Exhaust Venting for Volatile Sterilant Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container treatment devices struggle to maintain safe and permissible concentrations of volatile sterilizing agents in both the treatment and access areas, particularly during elevated or temporary increases, posing health risks to personnel.
Innovation Solution
A container treatment device with an exhaust air system that includes an exhaust air duct connected to both the treatment and access areas, utilizing a blower device to remove volatile components from the treatment area in normal conditions and an additional exhaust air duct with a valve to manage elevated concentrations in the access area, activated by concentration sensors for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sterilizing agent is introduced into the treatment area to reduce microorganisms, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but volatile components may accumulate to hazardous concentrations in the access area
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust system is segmented into two separate ducts: one dedicated to the treatment area and another to the access area. This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of air removal for each zone, ensuring that volatile components are effectively evacuated from the access area without compromising sterilization in the treatment area.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate exhaust air duct with a controllable valve is introduced as a mediator between the treatment area and the access area exhaust system. This intermediate structure allows selective activation of access area exhaust only when volatile component concentrations exceed permissible levels, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If continuous exhaust operation is maintained to remove volatile components, then safety in access area is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust system transitions from a static continuous operation mode to a dynamic conditional operation mode. The blower device and exhaust valve are activated only when sensors detect that volatile component concentrations in the access area exceed permissible levels. This dynamic adjustment optimizes energy consumption by operating the exhaust system only when necessary for safety.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback control mechanism is implemented where sensors continuously monitor volatile component concentrations in the access area and provide signals to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically activates or deactivates the exhaust valve and blower device, ensuring that energy is consumed only when required to maintain safe concentration levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional exhaust infrastructure is added to handle access area concentrations, then safety control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust system is designed with multi-functionality where a single blower device serves both the treatment area and the access area through a shared exhaust path controlled by a valve. This universal approach allows the system to handle both normal operation and elevated concentration scenarios without requiring completely separate exhaust infrastructure, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures safe and reliable operation by automatically adjusting to reduce volatile sterilizing agent concentrations in the access area, minimizing health risks and maintaining permissible levels, thus facilitating safe access and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
a blower device connected to the exhaust air duct for air conveyance, and the exhaust air device, by means of the blower device, removes volatile components of the sterilizing agent from the treatment area
Implementation Method 2
adhering microorganisms on the respective food containers are reduced and/or removed by means of a sterilizing agent introduced into the treatment area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a container treatment device, in particular a stretch blow molding device or stretch blow molding system, for processing food containers, comprising a treatment area and a walkable access area surrounding the treatment area, wherein the food containers are processed in the treatment area by means of stretch blow molding, wherein adhering microorganisms on the respective food containers are reduced and/or removed by means of a sterilizing agent, and an exhaust air device in a normal operating state removes volatile components of the sterilizing agent from the treatment area to maintain a permissible treatment air concentration, by means of an exhaust air blower from an exhaust air duct associated with the treatment area, wherein an additional exhaust air duct with an exhaust air valve is associated with the access area.wherein the exhaust valve has a closed position and an open position, and the auxiliary exhaust duct is connected to the exhaust duct in the open position of the exhaust valve, whereby, in a special operating condition, a temporarily increased concentration of volatile components in the access area can be removed by means of the exhaust fan through the auxiliary exhaust duct. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for reducing an impermissible concentration of a volatile sterilizing agent in the access area of a container treatment device.