Sterilizer Exit Window Cooling Using Clean Room Air Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization systems using electron beams for container sterilization require complex and costly rotary distributors for cooling the exit window, which can lead to overheating and radiation protection issues due to external cooling air supply.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using sterile air from the clean room to cool the exit window, eliminating the need for a rotary distributor by creating a circulation of air that is fed back into the clean room, and utilizing a compressor to ensure sufficient cooling air is available, simplifying the system and reducing radiation protection complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external cooling air is supplied to the exit window, then the exit window can be cooled, but a complex rotary distributor and sterile air filtration system are required
Solution Approach 1:
The clean room air serves dual purposes: both as the sterile atmosphere for container sterilization and as the cooling air for the exit window. The system uses its own internal resources (clean room air) to cool the exit window, eliminating the need for external cooling air supply and complex rotary distributors. The air circulation is self-contained within the clean room environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clean room air performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the sterile atmosphere necessary for container sterilization and serves as the cooling medium for the exit window. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling air supply systems and reduces overall system complexity.
2Temperature
If cooling air is supplied from outside the clean room, then cooling is possible, but radiation protection and sterile filtration become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the clean room's own air supply for cooling the exit window, eliminating the need for external air ducts and radiation protection measures for cooling air pathways. The air circulation remains entirely within the sterile boundary, simplifying radiation protection requirements.
3Temperature
If a rotary distributor is used to supply cooling air, then cooling air can be distributed to rotating sterilization devices, but the system structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The clean room air circulation system serves both the sterilization process and the cooling function without requiring a rotary distributor. The air is supplied directly to the exit window from the clean room environment, eliminating the need for complex rotating air distribution mechanisms.
4Temperature
If external cooling air is used, then cooling is possible, but air balance within the clean room is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The clean room air circulation system maintains continuous circulation where air is extracted from the clean room, used to cool the exit window, and then returned to the clean room. This closed-loop system maintains air balance and ensures continuous cooling without disrupting the sterile environment or requiring external air supplies.
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
This approach simplifies the cooling process, reduces structural complexity, and enhances air balance within the system, while ensuring effective cooling and radiation protection without the need for external cooling air supply, thus protecting the exit window and maintaining system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a gaseous medium from said clean room is fed to said exit window with said acceleration device to cool said exit window
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
A method for sterilizing containers (10), the containers (10) being transported along a predetermined transport path through a clean room (20), this clean room (20) being separated from the environment by means of at least one wall (22, 24) and the containers (10) are sterilized at least in sections by being charged with charge carriers, the charge carriers being generated and reaching the containers via an exit window (12) of a sterilization device (1), this exit window (12) being cooled by means of a gas flow. According to the invention, this gas flow is removed from the clean room (20) for cooling the exit window (12).