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US3858645A - Air sterilizing plant - Google Patents

Air sterilizing plant Download PDF

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Publication number
US3858645A
US3858645A US237261A US23726172A US3858645A US 3858645 A US3858645 A US 3858645A US 237261 A US237261 A US 237261A US 23726172 A US23726172 A US 23726172A US 3858645 A US3858645 A US 3858645A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
air
shell
filter
sterilizer
passageway
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US237261A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hermann Egger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RIC RESEARCH INVESTMENT Corp
International Paper Co
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3858645A publication Critical patent/US3858645A/en
Assigned to INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY reassignment INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: RIC RESEARCH INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Assigned to RIC RESEARCH INVESTMENT CORPORATION reassignment RIC RESEARCH INVESTMENT CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: QUEPOR S.A.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
    • A61L9/16—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using physical phenomena
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
    • Y02A50/20—Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns an air sterilizing plant, which is capable of supplying completely sterile air for many uses, such as to keep in an aseptic condition all types of food processing, preserving and packaging apparatus and equipment and to protect against bacterial contamination precedently sterilized perishable products and materials which have to come into contact with said products.
  • this uniformity of temperature in the air stream is attained by interposing in the path of said air stream a heated metal filter.
  • complete sterilization of the air stream may be attained even at temperatures which are consideraly lower than those which would be needed without the use of a heated filter.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the air sterilization plant according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diametral sectional view of the heating device of the plant according to FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a diametral sectional view of a modified air heater
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line V-V of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view along the heat exchanger of the plant shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line VIIIVIII of the device shown in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram of the thermal cycle of the air treated with the plant according to the present invention.
  • a blower 1 delivers air under pressure through a line 8 to an air filter 2.
  • the air filtered in 2 passes through a line 9 into the heat exchanger indicated at 3, where it is pre-.
  • the air is uniformly heated in this device to a temperature at which all microorganisms are killed.
  • the heated and sterilized air returns from the device 4 through line 11 into the heat exchanger, where it transfers part of its heat in counterflow to the air stream from line 9, issues from the device 3 through line 12, is cooled at 6 by the cooling circuit 7 to the desired operating temperature and is led through line 13 to its point of utilization.
  • the thermal levels of the air passed through said sterilization plant are the following: the air passes through filter 2 and enters the heat exchanging and recovering device 3 at room temprature, is pre-heated in said device 3 to approximately C, is heated at 4 to 300C (which temperature warrants the total destruction of the microorganisms contained therein). This completely sterile air enters the device 3 at approximately 210C and issues therefrom at a temperature of C, to be ultimately cooled in 6 to the temperature at which it is to be utilized.
  • the heating device 4 by which the air stream is uniformly and thoroughly heated to its complete sterilization essentially consists of heating elements and a heated metal filter.
  • the version shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a cylindrical shell 14 having an air outlet 16 for the sterilized air issuing into line 11.
  • the cylindrical shell is closed at one end by a bottom plate 17 provided with an inlet 15 connected with line 10 for the preheated air from said heat exchanger, and at its opposite end by a top plate 18, supporting heating elements.
  • the heating elements consist of two groups of electrical resistors, the first being a central group 5' surrounding the inlet 15 and the other a periphral group 5", said resistors being all carried by the above mentioned top plate 18.
  • This arrangement affords the filter a certain freedom of movement with respect to the other parts of the heating device, to allow for its different coefficient of expansion.
  • the shell 14 is welded to the bottom plate, while its upper rim forms an outward bent flange, by which the shell is bolted to the top plate with the interposition of a seal.
  • the pre-heated air coming from line 10 to the interior of shell 14 through the inlet flows axially along the first group 5 of resistors; successively, the air flow is forced to pass radially through the resistor group 5", these resistors being arranged so as to form a grid and to oblige the air to flow along a path during which it is heated to a high temperature.
  • Filter 19 is brought by the resistors and the air stream uniformly to the sterilization temperature reigning within the heater, so that all the zones of the air stream, during their passage through the pores of the filter, assume the same temperature, say 300C. This heating and sterilizing effect is enhanced owing to the prolongation of the direct contact between the air and the hot metal surfaces.
  • the inwardly facing surfaces of the circular projections 17' and 18 are concave, so as to bend the flow of air through the filter upward and downward respectively, in order to deflect it away from the lower and upper rim respectively of said filter in order to prevent the heated air to pass through the inerstices existing between the upper and lower rims of said filter and the lateral surfaces of the projections 17' and 18'.
  • these interstices must be left in order to compensate for the differences in radial and axial expansion between the filter and the remaining components of the heating device 4.
  • the heater shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 comprises a first cylindrical shell 114, one end of which is closed by a plate 118, which also acts as a support for a central group of circularly arranged resistors 105' and a group of resistors 105 arranged in a number of circles concentric with the first group and surrounding it.
  • shell 114 is fastened to an annular plate 130 which closes one end of a second cylindrical shell 131.
  • the opposite end of this shell is closed by a plate 117.
  • the cylindrical metal filter is contained in this second shell 131 and supported between its end plates 130 and 117.
  • a hollow metal cylinder 132 surrounding the first central group of resistors 105', extends, coaxially with shells 114 and 131, from the internal rim of annular plate 130 to the vicinity of plate 118, to form a baffle separating the central group of heaters from the peripheral ones.
  • the inlet 115 connected to the line 10 of the pre-heated air is applied to shell 114 adjacently to plate 130.
  • the outlet 116 which is connected to the line 111 of sterilized air is applied to shell 131 adjacently to plate 130.
  • the pre-heated air from line 10 passes through inlet 115 into the space between shell 114 and cylinder 132 and thence through the interior of the latter, during which path it is heated by the resistor groups 105 and 105' to a sterilizing temperature of approximately 300C.
  • the air passes into space 133 delimited by filter 119 and plates 117 and 130, and thence through the pores of said filter into the space 134 located between said filter 119 and shell 131, to issue finally through the outlet 116 into line 11.
  • the metal filter assumes uniformly the temperature of the sterilized air with which it is in contact and once it has reached this temperature, it performs its function to warrant the uniformity of the temperature of the air stream passing from space 133 into space 134.
  • the filter is easily regenerated by steam or by solvents.
  • the heat exchanging and recovering device illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is also made with the purpose of providing a highly efficient piece of equipment which is very easy and unexpensive to manufacture, to instal and to operate. It comprises an inner casing 21 having a rectangular cross section, provided with an inlet 26 for the sterile air coming from line 11 and with an outlet 27 connected with line 12. The central portion of said casing is flatter and narrower than its two terminal portions, in order to obtain a practically laminar air stream passing therethrough.
  • a shell is welded to the top, and an additional shell is welded to the lower surface of said casing.
  • Each shell 22 forms, together with the surface to which it is welded, a generally rectangular passage for the air to be pre-heated, having an inlet 24 connected with the line 9 and an outlet connected with the line 10.
  • the height of the central portions of these passages is reduced, in order to also obtain a practically laminar air stream and thus a more uniform pre-heating of the air passing from inlets 24 through the outlets 25.
  • this heat exchanging and recovering device ensures laminar and turbulent air streams both in the interior of the casing 21 and in the passages 22, with the air in casing 21 in counterflow with that in casing 22, in order to obtain the best possible heat exhange.
  • Unit 3 is insulated against the exterior by an outer casing 28.
  • FIG. 9 shows the time-temprature curve of air treated in a sterilization plant according to the invention (A).
  • the numerals above each curve section correspond to the reference numerals of the single units wherein the various stages of the thermal cycle are performed.
  • the air enters at C into the heater is heated to 300C, issues at this temperature level from filter 19 or 1 19, is cooled to C in the air exchanger and further cooled to a desired temperature in 6.
  • Apparatus for sterilizing air by the use of high temperature comprising:
  • an air sterilizer means to deliver air to said air sterilizer, and means to remove sterilized air from said air sterilizer;
  • said air sterilizer comprising means to destroy all micro-organisms in the air within said air sterilizer by providing an elevated temperature
  • said means to destroy micro-organisms comprising a microporous metallic filter and heating means to heat said microporous filter and the air within said air sterilizer to a temperature of about 280300C, said microporous filter being located downstream of said heating means;
  • Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a preliminary filter upstream from said air sterilizer;
  • a pre-heater comprising a heat exchanger having a first passageway between said preliminary filter and said air sterilizer, and a second passageway in heat exchange relationship with said first passageway downstream of said air sterilizer, wherein said means to remove sterilized air from said air sterilizer serves to pass the sterilized air back through said second passageway of said heat exchanger to pre-heat incoming air passing through said first passageway from said preliminary filter; and
  • said air cooling means being located downstream from said second passageway of heat exchanger.
  • said air sterilizer comprises:
  • said heating means comprising a central group of heating elements surrounding said air inlet and a peripheral group of heating elements surrounding said central group;
  • microporous filter being cylindrical and surrounding said peripheral group of heating elements and interposed between said group and said shell.
  • said air sterilizer comprises:
  • a second shell having an inwardly extending annular plate at one end, said shell having fastened at said one end to the opposite end of said first shell, and being closed at its other end;
  • a hollow metal cylinder communicating with said second shell and said first shell and extending from the internal rim of said annular plate and protruding into the interior of said first shell;
  • microporous filter being interposed in said second shell between said heating means and said air outlet.
  • a plant according to claim 1 wherein the filter is a cylindrical sinterized metallic filter.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
  • Central Air Conditioning (AREA)
US237261A 1971-04-01 1972-03-23 Air sterilizing plant Expired - Lifetime US3858645A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT4946171 1971-04-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3858645A true US3858645A (en) 1975-01-07

Family

ID=11270736

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US237261A Expired - Lifetime US3858645A (en) 1971-04-01 1972-03-23 Air sterilizing plant

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3858645A (de)
AT (1) AT317440B (de)
BE (1) BE781349A (de)
CH (1) CH537191A (de)
DE (1) DE2214866B2 (de)
ES (1) ES401363A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2132339B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1349116A (de)
NL (1) NL155733B (de)
SE (1) SE401089B (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4661126A (en) * 1984-03-02 1987-04-28 The Calpis Food Industry Co., Ltd. Sterilizing process
US7332140B2 (en) * 2001-10-17 2008-02-19 Matias Carlos J D Air sterilization system
US20080267819A1 (en) * 2007-03-06 2008-10-30 Bacik Michael A Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
CN109485212A (zh) * 2017-09-13 2019-03-19 阿部行雄 护理用排泄物处理装置
US20230191320A1 (en) * 2020-06-24 2023-06-22 Dusmit Ltd Air treatment systems and methods

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6111051A (ja) * 1984-06-27 1986-01-18 ハウス食品工業株式会社 無菌空気製造装置
GB8708325D0 (en) * 1987-04-07 1987-05-13 Dreszberg T M Electric heater
DE102020114678A1 (de) 2020-06-02 2021-12-02 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Behandlungsvorrichtung und Verfahren zur thermischen Inaktivierung eines Fluids
RO134681A0 (ro) * 2020-08-17 2021-01-29 Radu Radu Generator de aer sterilizat destinat echipării aparatelor respiratoare, utilizate în medii puternic infectate

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2501960A (en) * 1946-03-21 1950-03-28 Taylor Instr Company Method of and apparatus for timing the holding period of pasteurizers
US3254942A (en) * 1963-02-04 1966-06-07 Pfizer & Co C Sterile air supplying apparatus
US3315737A (en) * 1965-04-12 1967-04-25 United Aircraft Corp Oil filter and heater
US3737626A (en) * 1972-02-08 1973-06-05 O Davis Electrical filtered air heater

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2501960A (en) * 1946-03-21 1950-03-28 Taylor Instr Company Method of and apparatus for timing the holding period of pasteurizers
US3254942A (en) * 1963-02-04 1966-06-07 Pfizer & Co C Sterile air supplying apparatus
US3315737A (en) * 1965-04-12 1967-04-25 United Aircraft Corp Oil filter and heater
US3737626A (en) * 1972-02-08 1973-06-05 O Davis Electrical filtered air heater

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4661126A (en) * 1984-03-02 1987-04-28 The Calpis Food Industry Co., Ltd. Sterilizing process
US7332140B2 (en) * 2001-10-17 2008-02-19 Matias Carlos J D Air sterilization system
US20080267819A1 (en) * 2007-03-06 2008-10-30 Bacik Michael A Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
US20080279722A1 (en) * 2007-03-06 2008-11-13 Bacik Michael A Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
US20080279720A1 (en) * 2007-03-06 2008-11-13 Meilander Timothy W Decontamination unit with collapsible decontamination enclosure and decontamination process
US7993601B2 (en) 2007-03-06 2011-08-09 Steris Inc. Decontamination unit and process
US8128888B2 (en) 2007-03-06 2012-03-06 Steris Inc. Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
US8153078B2 (en) 2007-03-06 2012-04-10 Steris Inc. Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
US8163236B1 (en) 2007-03-06 2012-04-24 Steris Inc. Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
US8182743B1 (en) 2007-03-06 2012-05-22 Steris Inc. Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process
US8216523B2 (en) 2007-03-06 2012-07-10 Steris Inc. Decontamination unit with collapsible decontamination enclosure and decontamination process
CN109485212A (zh) * 2017-09-13 2019-03-19 阿部行雄 护理用排泄物处理装置
US20230191320A1 (en) * 2020-06-24 2023-06-22 Dusmit Ltd Air treatment systems and methods
EP4171664A4 (de) * 2020-06-24 2024-07-10 Dusmit Ltd Luftbehandlungssysteme und -verfahren
US12220660B2 (en) * 2020-06-24 2025-02-11 Dusmit Ltd Air treatment systems and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES401363A1 (es) 1975-03-01
FR2132339B1 (de) 1974-12-20
GB1349116A (en) 1974-03-27
CH537191A (de) 1973-05-31
BE781349A (fr) 1972-07-17
NL7204032A (de) 1972-10-03
SE401089B (sv) 1978-04-24
NL155733B (nl) 1978-02-15
DE2214866A1 (de) 1972-10-19
FR2132339A1 (de) 1972-11-17
DE2214866B2 (de) 1978-05-18
AT317440B (de) 1974-08-26

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AS Assignment

Owner name: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, 77 WEST 45 ST., NEW Y

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:RIC RESEARCH INVESTMENT CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:003854/0684

Effective date: 19810428

Owner name: RIC RESEARCH INVESTMENT CORPORATION, APARTADO 850

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:QUEPOR S.A.;REEL/FRAME:003854/0681

Effective date: 19810428

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