NEWSLETTER
ISSUE
May to Aug, 2017 Volume 3
Double Edge Gasket for Dry Heat Sterilizers
The Gasket plays a vital role in the performance of a sterilizer as it directly affects the process of sterilization. While considering application of dry heat sterilization, where the process is carried out with sterile air heated at 3000C, absolute sealing of the door is imperative. Any leakage will immediately contaminate the sterile air and result in non-sterility. In the industry today, inflated gaskets are prevalent. But the rising concern with this gasket is that it requires additional utility of air for the sealing process. Secondly, this air is non-sterile in nature. Hence, any leakage through the gasket can contaminate the sterile air inside a chamber. Furthermore, an Inflatable gasket loses its life faster due to the frequent expansion and contraction during the usage.
As a solution, Pharmalab proposes the use of a double-edged gasket (refer pic.1), which offers absolute safety with sealing at two edges of the gasket. In addition, the sterilizers are provided with a vacuum suction arrangement on the sealing face. This arrangement extracts the air trapped in between the edges of the gasket after the sealing is complete. The constant process of air extraction eliminates concern of non-sterile air and ensures firm sealing. It also minimizes surface temperature of the sterilizer. Interestingly, this design does not require an additional vacuum system for air extraction, as it utilizes the vacuum generated by the recirculation blowers of the sterilizer. Thus, the Double edge gasket assures performance and reduces the downtime with an extended gasket life.
VFD based control system for WFI generation plant
The WFI generation plant is an integral part of a sterile Pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. Therefore, efficient operation of this equipment is of utmost importance. With our constant efforts on product development, we ensure that the equipment achieves its highest efficiency.
In the WFI generation system, the output flow often varies. It may be due to various reasons like demand variation of WFI in the manufacturing plant, fluctuation in plant steam pressure, fluctuation in feed water flow rate etc. These variations require flow regulation of the feed water. Conventionally this flow regulation is achieved with the provision of a proportionate control valve (PCV). While regulating with PCV, Pharmalab made the following observations which were indispensable for further improvement.
1. Feed water pump always runs with constant rpm irrespective of the change in output flow. So, the power consumed by the pump is constant, or rather, it increases with resistance of PCV.
2. Variation in pressure on the feed water pump affects its life due to wear and tear.
3. Frequent changes in output flow leads to PCV malfunctions giving an inconsistent flow rate at different pressure levels.
With the aim to increase the efficiency with respect to the above observation, the Pharmalab think tank proposed a control system of feed water regulation with an inbuilt Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). The VFD based system controls the rpm of the feed water pump to regulate the water flow. This system eliminates the requirement of PCV, and the problems associated with the use of PCV. Moreover, the VFD based control system ensures proportionate power consumption, increased pump life and consistent flow rate with uninterrupted operation. Additionally, elimination of PCV results in a more uniform interconnecting piping with improved aesthetic of the WFI generation plant.
Thus, opting for an inbuilt VFD based control system for WFI generation ensures efficient and interrupted operation.
For any further queries, feel free to write on
pharmalab@pharmalab.com
