Sterilization Housing Heating for Plastic Pre-forms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization methods for plastics material pre-forms require high energy consumption and excessive thermal loading due to the need for maintaining a constant concentration of sterilization agents like hydrogen peroxide, which leads to inefficient use of resources and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
The method involves independently heating at least one portion of the housing and thermally insulating the sterilization region to maintain a consistent temperature, allowing for optimized heating and reduced energy consumption by using waste heat from adjacent machinery and separating heating from the sterilization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the process gas temperature is set high to temper the housing walls, then the wall tempering is achieved, but the energy consumption increases unnecessarily and mechanical components are thermally overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tempering function into two independent parts: (1) a separate heating device that heats only the housing walls, and (2) the sterilization process gas that maintains its temperature independently. This segmentation allows the wall tempering to be achieved without unnecessarily heating the entire sterilization chamber, thus reducing energy consumption while preventing thermal overload of mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate heating device as an intermediary element that specifically targets the housing walls for tempering. This intermediary heating system acts as a mediator between the sterilization process requirements and the housing wall temperature requirements, allowing independent control of wall temperature without affecting the sterilization gas temperature, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
2Temperature
If the process gas temperature is set high to temper the housing walls, then the wall tempering is achieved, but the mechanical components are excessively thermally loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating function by introducing a separate heating device that targets only the housing walls. This segmentation prevents the sterilization process gas from being overheated for the sole purpose of wall tempering, thereby protecting mechanical components from excessive thermal loading while still achieving the necessary wall temperature for maintaining sterilization agent concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate heating device serves as an intermediary that decouples the wall tempering function from the sterilization process. This intermediary heating system protects mechanical components from thermal overload by providing targeted wall heating without subjecting the entire chamber and its components to excessive temperatures.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a separate heating device is introduced to heat housing walls independently, then energy consumption is reduced and thermal loading is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by introducing a separate heating device that independently controls housing wall temperature. Although this adds a component, it enables precise temperature control that reduces overall energy consumption and protects mechanical components, justifying the increased complexity through significant operational efficiency gains.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate heating device serves multiple functions: it tempers the housing walls to maintain sterilization agent concentration, protects mechanical components from thermal overload, and reduces overall energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary heating of the entire chamber. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity.
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 reduces energy consumption and thermal loading on components while maintaining a consistent sterilization medium concentration, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the sterilization process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one portion of the housing is heated at least for a time before and/or during the sterilization procedure by a heating source independent of the sterilization agent
Implementation Method 2
at least one sterilization region, in which the plastics material pre-forms are sterilized, to be thermally insulated with respect to an environment
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for the sterilization of plastics material pre-forms, wherein the plastics material pre-forms are conveyed by a conveying device along a pre-determined conveying path and are sterilized at least for a time during this conveying by being acted upon with a flowable sterilization agent, wherein the plastics material pre-forms are conveyed at least for a time inside a housing. According to the method and apparatus, at least one portion of the housing is heated at least for a time and/or during the sterilization procedure by a heating source independent of the sterilization agent.