Steris Europe Inc Suomen Sivuliike

American Sterilizer Company

Steris Europe Inc.

Teppo J Nurminen

Mauri Salmisuo

Juha Mattila

Ilkka Laitinen

Peter J Buczynski

David A Karle

David F McCall

Riku Hälli

Martin J Still

Jorma Ter&auml;v&auml;

James M Huber

Ilkka Olavi Laitinen

The invention relates to a device and a method for the separation of solids from a biowaste slurry before heat treatment, and for heat treatment of the separated solids. The device comprises a chamber with a main inlet port for feeding slurry, and outlet ports. A unit for separating solids is adapted to an outlet port so, that liquid leaving the chamber has passed through the separation unit. A second outlet port is provided directly from the chamber to allow removal, following sterilization, of solids collected in the chamber. The sterilization is secured by temperature monitoring at representative locations.

Solids separator and method of treatment for biowaste

The invention relates to the batch treatment of goods with gas, steam or vapor, for example sterilization and drying. The distribution of the medium surrounding the load () during all stages of such a process is important. According to the invention, movement of fluids within a batch treatment apparatus is achieved using a fluid ejector device (), An apparatus for the gas, steam or vapor treatment of objects is provided, said apparatus having inside a closable chamber () at least one ejector device () of the type having a straight flow path for the secondary stream. Any particular fluid or mixture of different fluids entering the chamber during a treatment process may be introduced via an ejector device () in order to distribute the fluid around the load (), or remove material deposited on the load (). The invention eliminates the need for shaft seal arrangements involved with fans.

Device for batch treatment

The present invention provides a sterilizer having a housing defining a sterilization chamber. An opening in the housing communicates with the chamber. A surface surrounds the opening, and a door is movable between one of an open position allowing access to the chamber through the opening and a closed position covering the opening. A seal element is associated with the surface for forming a fluid-tight seal between the door and the surface when the door is in the closed position. An operating system is provided for applying pressure to one side of the seal from a first source external to the operating system to force the seal into engagement with the door. Sensing means are provided for monitoring the pressure applied to the seal from the first pressure source. A second source of pressure is provided in the operating system and is connectable to the seal. Valve means connect the pressure source to the steam system if the sensing means detects a pressure below a set pressure sufficient to sustain a seal between the door and the surface.

Door seal system for steam sterilizer

In a multi-effect falling-film evaporator, purified water for special purposes is produced. In each effect, a steam phase and a water phase is produced from the feed water. The steam phase is used for heating in the subsequent effect, whereby it condenses to product water, and the water phase becomes the feed stream for the subsequent effect. A reject stream is removed from the process to carry off impurities separated from the water. According to the invention, a reject stream is removed from each effect. Preferably, each reject stream is a condensed fraction of the steam generated in the respective effect.

Method and device for treating water

Purified water for special purposes is produced using a falling-film multieffect evaporator. From the feed water, each effect produces a steam phase and a water phase. The steam phase is used for heating in the subsequent evaporating step, whereby the steam phase condenses to product water, and the water phase becomes feed water for the subsequent evaporation step. According to the invention, the product water may be wholly or partly recycled to the initial feed water, allowing process startup and sterilisation of the plant without conducting hot product water to the drain.

Continuous biowaste sterilization process, the operability of which is ensured in such a way that during process startup, extreme conditions possibly coming into question during operation are simulated, i.e. the greatest possible flow rate and the lowest temperature of the feed flow. In the startup stage, a liquid to be sterlized is circulated in the apparatus, until the capacity has been ascertained, whereafter the discharge stream can be conducted to a sewer system. The apparatus according to the invention comprises, in the flow direction of the biowaste-containing liquid, a storage tank, at least one feed pump capable of delivering a constant flow, at least one heating unit, at least one cooling unit, and a circulation circuit for circulating the biowaste-containing liquid through the heating unit, as well as connecting piping and valves. By means of specific piping and valve arrangements it is also ensured that all parts of the apparatus can be sterilized for maintenance purposes.

Method and apparatus for the sterilization of biological waste

Ceramic filter elements ( ) have a feed surface covered with a ceramic filter membrane ( ). As a feed liquid flows over the feed surface, a portion of the liquid passes through the membrane and the filter and is discharged through a discharge surface as a permeate liquid flow. Between the feed and discharge surfaces, the filter element includes an impermeable surface portion ( ) which contacts a seal or gasket assembly ( ). The seal or gasket assembly includes two seal portions ( ) which define a channel ( ) in between. The channel connects with a discharge channel ( ). In this manner, any liquid leaking between the filter element and another filter element or a housing ( ) enters the discharge channel ( ). Liquid in the discharge channel indicates a leak in the seal and potential contamination of the permeate liquid.

Filtering unit and method of sealing same

Input water is preheated in a heat exchanger ( ), pumped ( ) through another heat exchanger ( ) into a heating unit ( ). The heating unit heats the water to a temperature of above 100&deg; C., preferably 140-150&deg; C., while maintaining the water in a liquid state without vaporization. A pump ( ) feeds the heated water under sufficient pressure to prevent vaporization to at least one crossflow filtration unit ( ). A portion of the heated water passes through a thermally stable filtration material having a pore size of 1-20 nanometers for filtering endotoxins and pyrogens, 4-10 nanometers for filtering viruses, or 100 nanometers&minus;30 &mgr;m for filtering bacteria. Heated water which has passed through the filtration material is fed through a pure water product outlet of the filtration unit to a pure water outlet ( ). A retenate portion of the heated water flows past the filtration material to carry filtered impurities through a retenate output line ( ). To conserve energy, the retenate output line passes through the heat exchanger ( ) and the pure water product line passes through the heat exchanger ( ) to preheat the incoming water. A backflushing valve ( ) selectively passes pure water product backward through the filtration material to backflush impurities trapped in the filtration material.

Growing community of inventors

Vantaa, Finland

Teppo J Nurminen