Ring Conduit Decontamination System for Pharmaceutical Isolators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current decontamination systems for pharmaceutical isolators face challenges in accurately determining the total volume of dispensed decontamination liquid, as they require laborious filling and emptying of separate supply lines, which can lead to errors and inefficiencies, and may result in unintended leakage and residue.
Innovation Solution
A decontamination assembly utilizing a common ring conduit connected to multiple atomizers, where decontamination liquid from a storage tank flows through the conduit and back into the tank, with pressure adjustment means maintaining a predefined pressure range, allowing for precise and simplified volume determination and efficient aerosol distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate supply lines are used for each atomizer, then individual control of each atomizer is possible, but the filling and emptying process becomes laborious and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate supply lines are merged into a single common ring conduit that serves all atomizers. The ring conduit forms a closed loop where decontamination liquid circulates continuously, eliminating the need for separate filling and emptying operations for each supply line. This merging resolves the contradiction by simplifying the filling process while maintaining the ability to control multiple atomizers through individual valves connected to the common conduit.
2Reliability
If decontamination liquid is dispensed through multiple separate supply lines, then each atomizer can be controlled independently, but unintended leakage and residue occur
Solution Approach 1:
The ring conduit establishes continuous circulation of decontamination liquid through the system. Liquid flows continuously from the storage tank through the ring conduit to all atomizers and back to the tank, preventing liquid stagnation and residue accumulation. The continuous flow ensures that when valves are closed, no liquid remains trapped in dead ends, eliminating leakage and residue issues while maintaining a relatively simple single-conduit structure.
3Productivity
If separate supply lines are used, then volume measurement can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The ring conduit enables continuous circulation of decontamination liquid without interruption. The system can maintain liquid flow continuously during the decontamination process, eliminating the time required for separate filling and emptying operations of multiple supply lines. Individual atomizers can be activated or deactivated via valves without stopping the overall circulation, significantly improving process efficiency while maintaining accurate volume measurement capability through the single continuous system.
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 solution simplifies the filling and volume determination of decontamination liquid, ensures consistent pressure conditions for atomizers, and reduces the risk of leakage and residue, enabling a more efficient and accurate decontamination process.
Implementation Method 1
atomizers disposed in the chamber to be decontaminated and preferably configured as two-component nozzles for producing a decontamination liquid aerosol, in particular a hydrogen peroxide aerosol
Implementation Method 2
atomizers which are disposed in the chamber to be decontaminated and which are preferably configured as two-component nozzles supplied with compressed air
Implementation Method 3
a chamber to be decontaminated, in particular a manipulator chamber and/or a plenum chamber separated from the manipulator chamber by a membrane for laminarizing an air flow
Data Source
AI summary
A decontamination assembly, for pharmaceutical applications includes at least one chamber to be decontaminated (4) having a decontamination liquid storage tank (36) by which several atomizers (A, B, C. D) disposed in the chamber to be decontaminated (4) for producing a decontaminant aerosol can be supplied with decontamination liquid using valves (27) which can be controlled by electronic control, the atomizers (A, B, C, D) being in fluid communication with a ring conduit (32) having an inlet (33) and a separate outlet (34) by the valves (27), decontamination liquid from the decontamination liquid storage tank (36) being conveyable into the inlet of the ring conduit by a pump (35) and decontamination liquid flowing out of the outlet of the ring conduit back into the decontamination liquid storage tank (36), and a pressure adjustment mechanism (37) for keeping the pressure in the ring conduit (32) at a predefined liquid pressure range assigned to the ring conduit (32). A measuring mechanism (40) for determining a total volume of decontamination liquid dispensed to the atomizers (A, B, C, D) during a decontamination cycle includes a weighing mechanism (41) for determining a decontamination liquid volume in the decontamination liquid storage tank (36).