Sterilization Tunnels

         Sterilization and de-pyrogenation Tunnel

Sterilization and de-pyrogenation

Sterilization Tunnel used to destroy any microorganisms by heat for the empty washed pharmaceutical vials to be ready for safe product packing.

The contamination level of the pharmaceutical vials depends on the heating exposure (more than 300◦C) and exposure duration “cycle time” which, have not adverse effects on the product parameters.

Sterilization Tunnel Zones

1- In-feed Zone

Consisting of Tunnel conveyor belt, Tunnel conveyor belt Drive and Laminar flow in-feed zone “H.E.P.A Absolute filters, Absolute filter Differential gauge, Pre-filter and Pre-filter Differential gauge”.

The vials coming from the upstream machine (washing machine) to the tunnel in-feed zone then the tunnel conveyor belt conveying the vials to the central irradiation heating zone.

2- Central Irradiation Heating Zone

Consisting of heating Chamber, Side doors, Stainless steel bellows (To totally prevent any release of particles from or to the sterilization zone), Top Irradiation lamps, Lower Irradiation lamps, spring supports, Modulating heat-regulation system, temperature probes, Additional temperature probe, Ceramic Insulation, Fiberglass Insulation, Transmitters, Heat regulators and exit hot chamber shutter.

The tunnel belt moving synchronized with the upstream machine and when the vials reached the first external shutter lifted efficiently approximately 5 cm from the first shutter then the shutter lifted by a lever and locked in a position proper for the vials size. After "cycle time" the vials reached the hot chamber discharge shutter which, opened and locked to allow vials conveying to the cooling zone.

3- Cooling Zone

Consisting of laminar flow, cooling batteries, absolute filters, Lower plenum, Hot wire anemometer, Differential gauge (For visual check of pressure drop at absolute filter), Delivery hood, Manual adjusting vertical shutter, heat regulator, cooling battery and exit cold chamber shutter.

Air pressure difference between in-feed and cooling chamber must be automatically regulated to prevent the possibility of counter air flow from cooling chamber to the in-feed chamber. Then vials conveyed to the down stream machine (Filling machine) through the rotary table.

Standard Instrumentation and controls

Consisting of control panel (Lockable stainless steel panel), Power supply, Output relays, Proximity sensors, temperature probes, Potentiometric recorder, PLC and Process parameter recorder.