CASE HISTORIES
Midwestern University Hospital - Sterilizers
Central sterilization was experiencing chronic wet packs and green spotting in the three
year-old steam sterilizers. Very expensive rework, lab tests, instrument arrangement testing
could not solve the problem. New regulators seemed to help a little, but not much...
We found good pressure delivery, but poor steam quality. Like any hospital, there was old
piping and new changes as the building expanded and sterilizer technology upgraded.
Tracing the piping from the steam main found the problem. Above the ceiling was a mezzanine
leading to the old filter location. Workers could change the filters without having to gown up and
enter the sterile areas. This piping was holding water. The steam inlet to the units was also
modified to eliminate water in bronze piping that was causing spots.
Now the spots are gone and reprocessing cost due to wet packs is greatly reduced.
year-old steam sterilizers. Very expensive rework, lab tests, instrument arrangement testing
could not solve the problem. New regulators seemed to help a little, but not much...
We found good pressure delivery, but poor steam quality. Like any hospital, there was old
piping and new changes as the building expanded and sterilizer technology upgraded.
Tracing the piping from the steam main found the problem. Above the ceiling was a mezzanine
leading to the old filter location. Workers could change the filters without having to gown up and
enter the sterile areas. This piping was holding water. The steam inlet to the units was also
modified to eliminate water in bronze piping that was causing spots.
Now the spots are gone and reprocessing cost due to wet packs is greatly reduced.
Research Lab Clean Room - Humidifiers
An all stainless steel humidification system feeds "clean steam" to 12 air handlers. Chronic
water hammer, humidifier spitting and poor humidity control were the problems. The level
control on the clean steam generators would overfill as well.
The contractor had tried everything, including new traps on the humidifiers and re-tilting the
distribution tubes but nothing seemed to seem to help. We found the clean steam boiler outlet
piping was configured so that condensate would drain back into the unit. Combine that with a
boiler header draining issue, and the symptoms became all related to the same problem.
Fixing the drianage issue solved the hammer and humidifier spitting. No more wet ducts and
lost lab hours. Modifying the boiler outlet solved the level control issues, no more
middle-of-the-night alarm calls and shutdowns.
water hammer, humidifier spitting and poor humidity control were the problems. The level
control on the clean steam generators would overfill as well.
The contractor had tried everything, including new traps on the humidifiers and re-tilting the
distribution tubes but nothing seemed to seem to help. We found the clean steam boiler outlet
piping was configured so that condensate would drain back into the unit. Combine that with a
boiler header draining issue, and the symptoms became all related to the same problem.
Fixing the drianage issue solved the hammer and humidifier spitting. No more wet ducts and
lost lab hours. Modifying the boiler outlet solved the level control issues, no more
middle-of-the-night alarm calls and shutdowns.
Life Sciences Medical Manufacturer - Sterilizer
A large "walk-in size" sterilizer was experiencing wet steam during the summer months. Water
would soak the upper "master-packaged" product boxes making them un-shippable. Heavy
scrap costs and upset delivery schedules were major problems, and downtime to attempt
corrective action was a further drag on sales and expenses.
Summer operation was the key to understanding this problem. The plant heating system would
be shut down, and a set of small local package boilers would carry the sterilizer load. While the
boilers had enough capacity, the instantaneous steam load caused the pressure in the shorter
piping length to drop. Just like suddenly removing a car radiator cap, the water in the units
would "boil over" and send water into the sterilizer.
A steam valve with a back-pressure controller solved the problem. No more wet boxes, lost
product, and late orders.
would soak the upper "master-packaged" product boxes making them un-shippable. Heavy
scrap costs and upset delivery schedules were major problems, and downtime to attempt
corrective action was a further drag on sales and expenses.
Summer operation was the key to understanding this problem. The plant heating system would
be shut down, and a set of small local package boilers would carry the sterilizer load. While the
boilers had enough capacity, the instantaneous steam load caused the pressure in the shorter
piping length to drop. Just like suddenly removing a car radiator cap, the water in the units
would "boil over" and send water into the sterilizer.
A steam valve with a back-pressure controller solved the problem. No more wet boxes, lost
product, and late orders.
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We can help get your critical equipment
back online ...quickly
If you have tried everything:
- expensive changes to piping and equipment,
- changes in procedures,
- changes to the controls.
and spent a lot of time:
- in meetings,
- reprocessing,
- on the phone,
- following up,
- explaining the situation over and over...
...maybe it's time to let us help you too!
back online ...quickly
If you have tried everything:
- expensive changes to piping and equipment,
- changes in procedures,
- changes to the controls.
and spent a lot of time:
- in meetings,
- reprocessing,
- on the phone,
- following up,
- explaining the situation over and over...
...maybe it's time to let us help you too!
CASE HISTORIES
| Thermo Diagnostics Company LLC - PO Box 2760 - West Lafayette, IN 47996-2760 Toll Free 877-677-5767 Phone 765-464-8501 Fax 765-464-8521 Email info@thermo-diagnostics.com |
This boiler was throwing mineral-laden
water into the distribution system, and all
the adjacent drain valves plugged.
To learn why a boiler might do this, ask
for our "Troubleshooting Steam
Systems" article, or ask about a training
class in your facility.
water into the distribution system, and all
the adjacent drain valves plugged.
To learn why a boiler might do this, ask
for our "Troubleshooting Steam
Systems" article, or ask about a training
class in your facility.
