Modular Clean Room Septum for Airtight Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing controlled-atmosphere clean rooms lack flexibility, requiring significant modifications and re-establishment of controlled environments when transitioning from pilot to large-scale production, leading to high costs and energy consumption due to the need for frequent changes in connection panels and fluid exchange ducts.
Innovation Solution
A septum system with interchangeable connecting and closing elements, allowing for easy reconfiguration and maintaining airtight seals, which can be adapted for both pilot and large-scale production configurations without compromising the controlled atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed connection panel with pre-established openings is used to maintain controlled atmosphere, then the reliability of the controlled environment is improved, but the adaptability to production scale changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection panel is divided into modular sections with standardized openings that can be independently configured. Each opening can be separately sealed or connected, allowing the system to be adapted to different production scales without compromising the overall controlled atmosphere integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection panel is designed with universal openings that can accommodate different tube sizes and configurations. The same panel structure serves multiple functions across pilot plant and large-scale production by simply reconfiguring which openings are sealed or connected, rather than requiring different panels for different scales.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connection panel is modified or substituted to adapt to large-scale production, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of time and energy for re-establishing controlled atmosphere deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection panel is pre-configured with all possible openings and connection points during initial installation. This preliminary setup allows for rapid reconfiguration to different production scales by simply sealing or opening specific pre-prepared connections, eliminating the need for time-consuming panel modifications or substitutions.
3Productivity
If additional openings and ducts are added for large-scale production, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection panel employs universal openings with standardized dimensions and connection types that can serve multiple purposes. The same opening infrastructure supports both pilot plant and large-scale production configurations, reducing the need for additional specialized ducts and connections, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite increased productivity capacity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Septum (1), for example usable for clean rooms (100) of the type comprising one controlled-atmosphere room (101) having one partitioning wall (102) configured to separate a controlled-atmosphere environment (C), inside the room (101), from an external not controlled-atmosphere environment (E); the septum (1) comprises one main body (2) having a plurality of openings substantially identical to each other, a plurality of intermediate bodies (4), each of which adapted to be stably engaged with the through openings (3); the intermediate bodies (4) comprise a plurality of connecting elements (5) and a plurality of closing elements (8): the connecting elements have a through hole (6) and an attachment device (7) suitable for being connected to operative machines (200) housed inside the room (101), while the closing elements (8) are hermetically engageable with through openings (3).