System for Sterile Applications

When blanketing in containers in sterile areas, further design features are required in addition to the high, electropolished surface quality and the materials specifically required for food and pharmaceutical applications. INSTRUM® stainless steel pressure regulators offer GMP-compliant design to minimize or eliminate germ zones (zones in process plants where micro organism multiply more easily or quickly due to higher humidity).

The self-draining design of the INSTRUM® regulator ensures that the valve is completely drainable and cleanable . For this purpose, the diaphragm is process-separated from the product chamber. A pneumatic pressure transducer, which is only in contact with the product chamber through its measuring diaphragm, is required for sterile and, if necessary, highly dynamic measurement and control. This pressure transducer brings the process pressure directly to the measuring diaphragm. The design-related niches and dead spaces are thus on the pneumatic side –  with INSTRUM® Valve the product remains sterile and the process is not contaminated.

In the typical procedure for safe sterilization, the system is first cleaned via the CIP or SIP connection. After cleaning, the system is switched to steam and flooded with hot steam at 2 bar via the variable pressure. The temperature is recorded at the coldest point and the time for sterilisation is started when a time limit value is reached. The condensate is drained and the variable pressure is reduced to standard values.