Steam Cleaning Dissolution Vessels In Situ
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning dissolution vessels in the pharmaceutical industry are inefficient, requiring large amounts of water and time, and often necessitate manual handling, which can lead to residue contamination and prolonged downtime between tests.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing pressurized steam for cleaning dissolution vessels, combined with a modular equipment system that allows for preheating and precise measurement of dissolution media, enabling efficient cleaning and preparation without removing vessels from their housing, using a combination of steam generation, aspiration, and dosing modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If manual cleaning methods with liquids and brushes are used, then cleaning can be performed, but large amounts of water and time are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning (brushes and liquid washing) with an automated steam injection system. The steam is generated, injected into the dissolution vessel under pressure, and then aspirated away automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing water consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to steam for cleaning. Steam is generated and injected into the dissolution vessel, where it condenses on the walls and surfaces, providing intense heating and cleaning action. The condensed water is then aspirated away, creating an efficient cleaning cycle that uses minimal water compared to traditional liquid washing methods.
2Loss of time
If manual handling and cleaning procedures are used, then vessels can be cleaned, but prolonged downtime between tests occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service cleaning through automated steam generation and injection. The steam is automatically generated, injected into the vessel, and aspirated away without requiring manual handling or intervention, significantly reducing downtime between tests while maintaining ease of operation through simple automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous cleaning action through automated steam injection and aspiration cycles. The system can continuously clean multiple vessels in sequence without interruption or manual intervention, eliminating the downtime associated with manual cleaning procedures and ensuring continuous operational capability.
3Reliability
If traditional cleaning equipment is used, then vessels can be cleaned, but residue contamination may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical brushing and liquid rinsing with steam-based cleaning followed by aspiration. The steam effectively removes residues through thermal action and condensation, while the aspiration system removes all liquid and vapor residues, ensuring complete elimination of contamination without requiring complex mechanical cleaning devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes steam as a high-temperature oxidizing environment that effectively breaks down and eliminates organic residues. The hot steam accelerates oxidation of residual materials, ensuring thorough cleaning and eliminating contamination risks without requiring additional chemical agents or complex equipment.
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 significantly reduces water and time consumption in cleaning, minimizes residue, and prepares vessels quickly for new tests, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing manual handling.
Implementation Method 1
a. Generating water steam
Implementation Method 2
Injection of water steam at predetermined temperatures and pressure levels
Implementation Method 3
g. Aspiration of steam using the aspiration tube and transferring into the waste tank
Implementation Method 4
b. Preheating the dissolution media to be dosed
Implementation Method 5
b. Measuring the predetermined amount of dissolution media to be dosed using a gravimetric measuring device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for cleaning dissolution vessels and for the subsequent dosing of a dissolution media, and to mobile modular cleaning and dosing equipment for the implementation of said method. According to said method, injected water steam is used for the cleaning and is subsequently aspirated, together with the residues of the dissolution, and the vessel is then refilled with the desired quantity of a new dissolution media. The mobile modular cleaning and dosing equipment allows the cleaning and dosing to be carried out in situ without having to remove the dissolution vessels from the equipment or site where the dissolution tests are carried out, using self-sufficient modular equipment, and a novel steam supply line is used for the cleaning, which sprays the steam against the bottom of the vessel and the inner side walls.