Filling Unit Insulator Laminar Flow Particle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Container filling units with insulators face contamination risks due to particles on the external surface of containers being detached by turbulent air flows, which are not effectively managed by existing insulator designs.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging sterile air insufflation means at the top of the insulator to create a laminar flow that sweeps over the container surfaces and includes separate exhaust means at the bottom for controlled evacuation of particles, with the exhaust means being designed to omit sterilizing liquid, allowing for efficient particle removal without re-contaminating the internal volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If turbulent air flow is used to create overpressure in the insulator, then contamination risk is reduced, but particles on container surfaces are detached and cause contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to laminar. By using laminar flow instead of turbulent flow to create overpressure in the insulator, the system maintains contamination protection while avoiding particle detachment from container surfaces. The laminar flow smoothly sweeps over container surfaces without creating the chaotic eddies that would dislodge particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of air flow on container surfaces into a beneficial protective effect. The laminar air flow, which could potentially detach particles, is instead configured to smoothly sweep over and protect container surfaces while maintaining the necessary overpressure for contamination protection.
2Manufacturing precision
If sterile air insufflation means are arranged at the top of the insulator, then laminar flow can sweep over container surfaces, but particles need to be evacuated through separate exhaust means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air flow management system into distinct insufflation and evacuation functions. The sterile air insufflation means are arranged at the top to generate laminar flow, while separate exhaust means are positioned at the bottom for particle evacuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to control particles throughout the insulator volume.
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 configuration effectively reduces the risk of particle contamination by immediately capturing and evacuating particles from the container surfaces, maintaining a controlled and sterile environment within the filling unit, and can be easily integrated into existing filling units.
Implementation Method 1
the sterile air insufflation means are arranged in the top part of the insulator so as to project a laminar flow of sterile air to sweep over the outer surface of the containers
Implementation Method 2
the insulator comprises, in the bottom part, exhaust means, separate from the inlet and from the outlet, intended to allow a controlled evacuation of the laminar flow of insufflated sterile air
Data Source
AI summary
A unit (10) for filling containers (14), includes an insulator (16) having a body (18) provided with an inlet (E) and an outlet (S), the structure (20) of the body (18) defining a space (V) forming an aseptic working region (22) and including insufflation elements (28) which are arranged in the upper part of the insulator (16) and are able to insufflate a sterile air flow for creating an overpressure inside the space (V). The insufflation elements (28) are arranged in the insulator (16) in such a way as to project a laminar-type flow (F) to lick the outer surface (44) of the containers (14), and the insulator (16) includes evacuation elements (48) which are separate from the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) and used to enable a controlled evacuation of the insufflated sterile air flow (F).