Ultrasonic Drying of Low-Temperature Articles in Pass Boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-temperature articles, such as thermally unstable pharmaceutical products and freeze-dried items, require lengthy decontamination due to slow condensation of decontamination agents on their surfaces, which can lead to temperature fluctuations and inefficiencies in sterile environments like isolators.
Innovation Solution
The method involves applying a decontamination agent as a mist to low-temperature articles and using ultrasonic vibration to dry the condensed film, combined with dry air supply, to enhance the decontamination process in a pass box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a decontamination agent is supplied as gas or mist to low-temperature articles, then the decontamination effect is improved, but the decontamination time becomes excessively long due to slow condensation on cold surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the decontamination agent from gas phase to liquid phase by spraying a liquid solution onto the low-temperature articles. This parameter change allows the decontamination agent to remain in contact with the article surface without requiring condensation, thereby maintaining effective decontamination while significantly reducing the time required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies ultrasonic vibration to the liquid decontamination agent sprayed on the article surface. This mechanical vibration promotes rapid evaporation of the liquid solvent, leaving behind the active decontamination components on the surface. This accelerates the drying process and reduces overall decontamination time while maintaining the decontamination effect.
2Reliability
If decontamination is performed on low-temperature articles in a pass box, then sterile environment is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases due to long decontamination duration
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the decontamination agent from gas to liquid spray form, the process achieves effective surface coverage and decontamination within a shorter time frame, thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining the sterile environment requirement in the pass box.
Solution Approach 2:
Ultrasonic vibration is used to accelerate the evaporation of the liquid decontamination agent, significantly reducing the time the articles remain in the pass box during decontamination. This increases productivity and operational efficiency while the sealed pass box continues to maintain the sterile environment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If low-temperature articles are kept cooled or frozen during decontamination, then temperature stability is maintained, but decontamination effectiveness decreases due to slow agent condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the decontamination agent application method from relying on gas condensation (which is temperature-dependent and slow on cold surfaces) to liquid spray application. This parameter change makes the decontamination process independent of surface temperature, allowing articles to remain at their required low temperatures while still achieving effective decontamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Ultrasonic vibration is applied to the sprayed liquid decontamination agent to accelerate solvent evaporation. This mechanical energy input overcomes the low-temperature condition that would otherwise slow down evaporation, enabling effective decontamination while maintaining article temperature stability.
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 decontamination time and improves operational efficiency by promoting rapid evaporation and oxidation of the decontamination agent, ensuring effective surface decontamination without affecting the temperature stability of the articles.
Implementation Method 1
a condensed film of a hydrogen peroxide solution that condenses on the surface of an object to be decontaminated
Implementation Method 2
a drying step for irradiating with ultrasonic waves the low-temperature article applied with the decontamination agent and drying the surface
Implementation Method 3
promoting rapid evaporation and oxidation of the decontamination agent
Implementation Method 4
hydrogen peroxide has a strong sterilization effect, and is inexpensively available and effectively utilized as an environmentally-friendly decontamination gas that is ultimately decomposed into oxygen and water
Implementation Method 5
improves operational efficiency by promoting rapid evaporation and oxidation of the decontamination agent
Data Source
AI summary
A method for decontaminating a low-temperature article, the method comprising: an applying step including applying a decontamination agent to external surfaces of a low-temperature article and supplying a mist of decontamination agent to a first external surface of said low-temperature article to form a condensed film of the decontamination agent on said first external surface; and a drying step including ultrasonically vibrating vibration boards disposed on a periphery of the low-temperature article to generate sound flows from board surfaces by an ultrasound in a vertical direction, irradiating with ultrasonic waves the low-temperature article with the decontamination agent applied thereto, subjecting said first external surface of the low-temperature article to ultrasonic vibration and acoustic radiation pressure, supplying dry air to the first external surface and drying said first external surface.