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WO2006008471A1 - Ventilateur - Google Patents

Ventilateur Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006008471A1
WO2006008471A1 PCT/GB2005/002761 GB2005002761W WO2006008471A1 WO 2006008471 A1 WO2006008471 A1 WO 2006008471A1 GB 2005002761 W GB2005002761 W GB 2005002761W WO 2006008471 A1 WO2006008471 A1 WO 2006008471A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cabinet
slot
ventilator
air stream
freeze dryer
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2005/002761
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joost Van Aaken
Luc Bernard
Johan De Hoon
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.)
BOC Group Ltd
Original Assignee
BOC Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BOC Group Ltd filed Critical BOC Group Ltd
Publication of WO2006008471A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006008471A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
    • F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
    • F26B5/06—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum the process involving freezing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B25/00—Details of general application not covered by group F26B21/00 or F26B23/00
    • F26B25/008—Seals, locks, e.g. gas barriers or air curtains, for drying enclosures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a ventilator, and in particular to a ventilator for assuring an effective prevention of air exchange between a freeze dryer and an area with uncontrolled air quality, irrespective of the process status of the freeze dryer.
  • Freeze drying is a process that removes from a product water in the form of ice.
  • the product is frozen and, under vacuum, the ice sublimes and the vapour flows towards a condenser. Ice subsequently condensed on the condenser can be removed in a later stage.
  • Freeze drying is particularly useful in the pharmaceutical industry, as the integrity of the products is preserved during the freeze drying process and product stability can be guaranteed over relatively long periods of time.
  • Freeze dryers thus typically incorporate a pressure vessel having a freeze drying chamber for receiving a plurality of containers or vials containing the product to be freeze dried.
  • the chamber usually includes a number of shelves, each of which can be raised and lowered within the chamber.
  • the shelves are initially collapsed in the lower portion of the chamber, and the uppermost shelf is first moved into a loading position. After that shelf has been loaded, the mechanism automatically raises the loaded shelf to enable the next shelf to be moved to the loading position. This moving sequence continues until the chamber loading has been completed. To unload the chamber, the loading sequence is reversed, with the lowermost shelf being unloaded first.
  • Access to the chamber for automated loading and removal of vials is through a rectangular opening, or slot, formed in a wall or in the main door of the chamber.
  • the slot is closed by a slot door that forms, with the chamber, a vacuum seal around the slot.
  • the slot door is vertically raised relative to the slot by moving the slot door along guide tracks.
  • a loading mechanism provided opposite the slot door pushes vials from a conveyor on to a shelf of the chamber.
  • the vials may be loaded row by row on to a shelf, a number of rows at a time, or a complete shelf full at a time, or a dual vial pack per shelf.
  • the loading mechanism is subsequently withdrawn and the shelf raised to enable another shelf to be moved into position for loading.
  • the slot door is closed to enable the contents of the vials to be freeze dried.
  • the vials can be subsequently removed from the chamber, typically in the same manner as they were loaded into the chamber, using an unloading mechanism.
  • compositions are usually at least partially housed in a clean room, with the loading and unloading mechanism being located in a sterile environment, for example an isolator, adjacent the clean room environment.
  • the present invention provides a ventilator for passing a controlled air stream across a slot opening to a chamber of a freeze dryer, the ventilator comprising a cabinet locatable on or relative to the chamber such that the cabinet is located over the opening, the cabinet having an aperture providing access to the opening; a mechanism for selectively closing the aperture; a fan for generating the air stream within the cabinet; and a filter for filtering particulates from the air stream.
  • the ventilator can thus provide a localised, controlled air flow across the opening such that only air from this controlled air stream enters the chamber through the opening.
  • the flow of clean air through the cabinet also prevents also ingress of lower classified air into the cabinet and therefore also the freeze dryer.
  • the level of contamination of the chamber is reduced, which can enable the frequency of sterilisation of the chamber to be reduced, improving productivity of the chamber.
  • the provision of the aperture enables automated loading and unloading of the chamber to be performed whilst the cabinet is in situ over the opening.
  • the cabinet can be conveniently mounted on the chamber so that it is located over the opening, with the aperture being located opposite the opening to enable the chamber to be accessed through the aperture.
  • the ventilator is suitable for use with any chamber where thermosyphoning problems are encountered.
  • the ventilator is particularly suitable for use with a freeze dryer
  • the present invention provides a freeze dryer comprising a chamber, a slot formed in the chamber for providing access to the chamber, a moveable slot door for selectively exposing the slot, and a ventilator for passing a controlled air stream across the exposed slot, the ventilator comprising a cabinet located over the slot door, the cabinet having an aperture providing access to the slot to enable the freeze dryer to be loaded and unloaded through the cabinet, means for selectively closing the aperture, a fan for generating the air stream within the cabinet, and a filter for filtering particulates from the air stream before it passes across the slot door.
  • the slot door of a freeze dryer tends to be relatively heavy.
  • the slot door By providing a mechanism for selectively closing the aperture in the cabinet, the slot door can be kept open during the entire loading and unloading sequences, which may take several hours, with the aperture being selectively opened and closed as required.
  • the aperture may be conveniently closed by one or more doors, each having a respective mechanism for moving the door in a direction transverse to the aperture.
  • These doors can be formed from lighter material than the slot door of the freeze dryer, and so opening and closing of these doors can take a shorter time than the opening and closing of the slot door, thereby shortening the time taken to perform the loading and unloading sequences.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a ventilator cabinet mounted to a freeze dryer
  • Figure 2 is a similar schematic view to Figure 1 , including a loading mechanism for loading vials into the freeze dryer;
  • Figure 3 is a front view of the ventilator mounted on the freeze dryer.
  • Figure 4 is a side, cross-sectional view of the ventilator mounted on the freeze dryer.
  • a freeze dryer 10 comprises a chamber 12 having a slot 13 formed in the front wall of the chamber 12 to enable vials to be loaded on to and unloaded from a shelf 14 in the chamber 12.
  • the slot 13 can be closed by a slot door moveable relative to the chamber 12.
  • the chamber 12 includes a number of shelves 14, each of which can be raised and lowered within the chamber 12 using a shelf location mechanism.
  • a ventilator 16 is provided for passing a controlled air stream across the slot 13 of the chamber 12.
  • the ventilator 16 is mounted on to the front wall of the chamber 12, for example, by bolting the ventilator 16 on to a stainless steel bezel 18 provided on the front wall.
  • the ventilator may be mounted directly on to the door.
  • the ventilator may be a floor standing unit, or may be mounted to the ceiling 20 of the external room.
  • the ventilator 16 comprises a cabinet 22 defined, at least in part, by a front wall 24, (at least partially open) top wall 26, and two side walls 28.
  • a front wall 24, (at least partially open) top wall 26, and two side walls 28 When the ventilator 16 is mounted on the chamber 12, the cabinet 22 is located over the slot door 30 of the chamber 12, as shown in Figure 4. The bottom of the cabinet 22 is open.
  • the ventilator 16 is designed to remain in place over the slot door 30 when an assembly 32 is docked to the freeze dryer 10 for the automated loading of the freeze dryer 10 with vials, and for the subsequent automated unloading of those vials from the freeze dryer 10.
  • the cabinet 22 includes an aperture 36 formed in the front wall 24 and positioned such that, when the ventilator 16 is mounted on the freeze dryer 10, the aperture 36 is located opposite to the slot 13 formed in the chamber 12, as shown in Figure 4.
  • the aperture 36 is selectively opened and closed by an aperture opening and closure mechanism indicated generally at 38 in Figure 4.
  • this mechanism 38 includes three doors 40, 42, 44 which together fully close the aperture 36.
  • Each door 40, 42, 44 can be individually lowered to expose a respective part of the aperture 36, and subsequently individually raised to close that part of the aperture 36, by an actuating mechanism 46.
  • each door 40, 42, 44 may be secured to and reciprocated between the lowered and raised positions by a piston rod of a cylinder of a respective hydraulic piston-cylinder unit mounted on the ventilator 16.
  • Other mechanical devices, such as a motor driven toggle mechanism, screw or gear assemblies may be used instead of the piston-cylinder unit.
  • Guide tracks 45 may be provided for guiding movement of each door as it is raised and lowered relative to the aperture 36.
  • the ventilator 16 includes a fan 48 and absolute filters for generating a controlled laminar air flow within the cabinet 22.
  • the fan 48 is located above the top wall 26 of the cabinet 22; as mentioned previously the top wall 26 is partially open to allow the air stream generated by the fan 48 to enter the cabinet 22, pass downwards through the cabinet 22 and across the slot door 30, and exit the cabinet 22 from the open bottom thereof.
  • the controller may be provided for controlling parameters of the generated air stream, such as the pressure, speed, temperature and humidity of the air stream.
  • a filter 50 for example, a HEPA filter, is provided above the cabinet 22 to filter any particulates or other contaminants from the generated air stream before it enters the cabinet 22.
  • the ventilator 16 is mounted on the freeze dryer 10, with the aperture 36 closed by the mechanism 38.
  • the loading assembly 32 is then brought forward to load vials into the chamber 12.
  • the fan 48 is started to generate a continuous, unidirectional air stream passing downwards through the cabinet 22, the open bottom of the cabinet 22 preventing the build-up of air pressure within the cabinet 22.
  • the slot door 30 is raised, using an actuating mechanism indicated generally at 52 in Figure 4, to expose the slot 13.
  • the actuating mechanism 52 may be provided by one or more hydraulic piston-cylinder units, the slot door 30 being attached to the or each piston so that the door is raised or lowered with movement of the or each piston. Again, other mechanical devices, such as a motor driven toggle mechanism, screw or gear assemblies may be used instead of the piston-cylinder unit.
  • the air stream passing through the cabinet 22 across the exposed slot 13 prevents contaminants entering the chamber 12 from the external room, and ensures that if any air does enter the chamber 12, particularly when the shelves 14 of the freeze dryer 10 are cold, that air is of a controlled nature (pressure, contamination level, humidity, temperature, etc.).
  • the mechanism 38 is actuated to lower one or more of the doors 40, 42, 44 as required to expose the aperture 36. For instance, when the left-hand side of a shelf 14 is to be loaded, only the doors 40 and 42 are lowered, and when the right-hand side of a shelf 14 is to be loaded, only the doors 42 and 44 are lowered.
  • a bridge plate 60 or the like of the assembly 32 can then be inserted through the exposed part of the aperture 36 and the exposed slot 13 to dock with a shelf 14 of the freeze dryer 10 and allow vials to be pushed from the assembly 32 on to the shelf of the chamber 12.
  • the assembly 32 may be provided with its own laminar air flow fan, which can further prevent contaminants from entering the chamber 12 from the assembly 32.
  • the bridge plate 60 is withdrawn to enable the loaded shelf to be raised and another shelf to be positioned ready for loading. Whilst the bridge plate is removed from the cabinet 22 during a loading procedure, the relevant doors 40, 42, 44 are raised to close the aperture 36. However, due to the continuous passage of the air stream across the slot 13, it is not necessary to lower the slot door 30 to close the slot 13 until the chamber 12 has become fully loaded. As the doors 40, 42, 44 may be lighter than the slot door 30, the time taken to raise and lower these doors may be significantly shorter than the time taken to raise and lower the slot door 30, and this may markedly decrease the time taken to complete the loading procedure.
  • the fan 48 may be stopped and the ventilator 16 dismounted from the chamber 12. Alternatively, the ventilator 16 may be kept in place for use during the subsequent unloading of the vials from the chamber 12 following the completion of the freeze drying process.
  • the fan 48 is started to generate the air stream within the cabinet 22. Once the air stream has been fully established, the slot door 30 is raised using actuating mechanism 52 to expose the slot 13. The mechanism 38 can then be actuated to expose the aperture 36 as required to allow the vials to be unloaded through the cabinet 22.
  • a ventilator for controlling the local environment external to a slot of a freeze dryer comprises a cabinet located over the slot door of the freeze dryer, a front wall of the cabinet facing the freeze dryer. An aperture formed in the front wall allows access to the slot to enable the freeze dryer to be loaded and unloaded through the cabinet, the ventilator being provided with one or more doors for opening and closing the aperture as required.
  • a fan generates a controlled air stream within the cabinet, the air stream passing across the slot door.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un ventilateur (16) destiné à contrôler l'environnement local à l'extérieur d'une fente (13) ménagée dans un lyophilisateur (10). Le ventilateur (16) comprend une armoire (22) située au-dessus de la porte (30) de la fente du lyophilisateur (10), une paroi avant (24) de l'armoire (22) faisant face au lyophilisateur (10). Une ouverture (36) formée dans la paroi avant (24) permet d'accéder à la fente (13) pour charger et décharger le lyophilisateur (10) par l'armoire (22), ce ventilateur (16) étant pourvu d'une ou plusieurs portes (40, 42, 44) pour ouvrir et fermer l'ouverture (36) si besoin. Une soufflante (48) génère un flux d'air contrôlé à l'intérieur de l'armoire (22), ce flux d'air traversant la porte (30) de la fente. Ainsi, lorsque la porte (30) est soulevée pour ouvrir la fente (13), seul l'air provenant de ce flux d'air contrôlé pénètre dans le lyophilisateur (10).
PCT/GB2005/002761 2004-07-21 2005-07-15 Ventilateur Ceased WO2006008471A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0416295.4 2004-07-21
GB0416295A GB0416295D0 (en) 2004-07-21 2004-07-21 Ventilator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006008471A1 true WO2006008471A1 (fr) 2006-01-26

Family

ID=32922570

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2005/002761 Ceased WO2006008471A1 (fr) 2004-07-21 2005-07-15 Ventilateur

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB0416295D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2006008471A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2911393A1 (fr) * 2007-01-16 2008-07-18 3A Soc Responsabilite Limitee Unite mobile de sechage des produits de finition
WO2010074723A1 (fr) * 2008-12-22 2010-07-01 Ima Life North America Inc. Actionneur de porte à fente de lyophilisateur et procédé
CN104832021A (zh) * 2015-05-12 2015-08-12 伊马莱富（北京）制药系统有限公司 冻干机滑动门的门板与横梁连接的结构及在线分离与连接的方法

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2827266A (en) * 1956-10-31 1958-03-18 V C Patterson & Associates Inc Vestibule for cold storage warehouses
US3299659A (en) * 1965-04-01 1967-01-24 Frick Co Fluid seal for freezing chamber openings
US3533245A (en) * 1968-11-14 1970-10-13 Harold L Komberec Gas lock for openings in pressurized chambers
GB1455371A (en) * 1974-02-07 1976-11-10 Disco Eng Inc Vestibule in combination with air curtain door
EP0058782A1 (fr) * 1981-02-24 1982-09-01 Stichting Ontwikkeling Koeltechniek Bâtiment d'entreposage frigorifique
US4516482A (en) * 1984-04-24 1985-05-14 Smith George R Conditioned air vestibule for refrigerated warehouse doorway
US4901764A (en) * 1987-10-20 1990-02-20 Societe Generale Pour Les Techniques Nouvelles -Sgn- Dynamic confinement and contactless docking
EP0538524A1 (fr) * 1990-05-15 1993-04-28 University Of Bath Système d'air pur localisé et tête de distribution correspondante
EP0618417A1 (fr) * 1993-03-29 1994-10-05 Hull Corporation Système de chargement et de déchargement
WO1996035090A1 (fr) * 1995-05-06 1996-11-07 Douglas Kelly Installations de chargement pour unites de traitement de substances se trouvant dans des reservoirs ou des recipients
DE20102879U1 (de) * 2001-02-16 2001-10-04 MOTUS Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, 35037 Marburg Be-Entladevorrichtung für Behandlungsanlagen zur Be-Entladung von Behältnissen oder Stückgütern
GB2397116A (en) * 2003-01-14 2004-07-14 Clark Door Ltd Conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2827266A (en) * 1956-10-31 1958-03-18 V C Patterson & Associates Inc Vestibule for cold storage warehouses
US3299659A (en) * 1965-04-01 1967-01-24 Frick Co Fluid seal for freezing chamber openings
US3533245A (en) * 1968-11-14 1970-10-13 Harold L Komberec Gas lock for openings in pressurized chambers
GB1455371A (en) * 1974-02-07 1976-11-10 Disco Eng Inc Vestibule in combination with air curtain door
EP0058782A1 (fr) * 1981-02-24 1982-09-01 Stichting Ontwikkeling Koeltechniek Bâtiment d'entreposage frigorifique
US4516482A (en) * 1984-04-24 1985-05-14 Smith George R Conditioned air vestibule for refrigerated warehouse doorway
US4901764A (en) * 1987-10-20 1990-02-20 Societe Generale Pour Les Techniques Nouvelles -Sgn- Dynamic confinement and contactless docking
EP0538524A1 (fr) * 1990-05-15 1993-04-28 University Of Bath Système d'air pur localisé et tête de distribution correspondante
EP0618417A1 (fr) * 1993-03-29 1994-10-05 Hull Corporation Système de chargement et de déchargement
WO1996035090A1 (fr) * 1995-05-06 1996-11-07 Douglas Kelly Installations de chargement pour unites de traitement de substances se trouvant dans des reservoirs ou des recipients
DE20102879U1 (de) * 2001-02-16 2001-10-04 MOTUS Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, 35037 Marburg Be-Entladevorrichtung für Behandlungsanlagen zur Be-Entladung von Behältnissen oder Stückgütern
GB2397116A (en) * 2003-01-14 2004-07-14 Clark Door Ltd Conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2911393A1 (fr) * 2007-01-16 2008-07-18 3A Soc Responsabilite Limitee Unite mobile de sechage des produits de finition
WO2010074723A1 (fr) * 2008-12-22 2010-07-01 Ima Life North America Inc. Actionneur de porte à fente de lyophilisateur et procédé
US8640358B2 (en) 2008-12-22 2014-02-04 Ima Life North America Inc. Freeze dryer slot door actuator and method
CN104832021A (zh) * 2015-05-12 2015-08-12 伊马莱富（北京）制药系统有限公司 冻干机滑动门的门板与横梁连接的结构及在线分离与连接的方法
CN104832021B (zh) * 2015-05-12 2016-11-02 伊马莱富（北京）制药系统有限公司 冻干机滑动门的门板与横梁连接的结构及在线分离与连接的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0416295D0 (en) 2004-08-25

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