All about the autoclave for sterilization

The autoclave is an apparatus that performs the function of sterilizing any objects or products by heating and applying high pressure inside the chamber. It is at a high temperature and a certain level of pressure (as a rule, its value is below the atmospheric one) that effective elimination of various microorganisms, dust, dirt and other harmful substances accumulated on the surface of the device is achieved. What is this unit and where is it used? The answers to all these questions will be found in our today's article.

Features of constructions

It is worth noting that the first autoclave for sterilization, invented by Chamberlain as early as 1879, is significantly different from today's device models. Depending on the type, this device can process instruments with a volume from several tens of cubic centimeters to several hundred cubic meters. At the same time, the working pressure at which the sterilization process takes place can be about 150 MN / m ² (this is approximately 1500 kgf / cm ² ). It is also worth noting that the temperature inside this camera reaches a mark of 500 degrees Celsius. During the entire sterilization period, the autoclave is maintained at a constant temperature and pressure, the limiting value of which we indicated just above. By the way, if such a process takes place without changing the pressure, then it will not be an autoclave, but a sterilizer (or the so-called drying cabinet).

Autoclave in medicine and chemical industry

This device is used mainly in medicine for the treatment of various medical instruments. Also, the autoclave for sterilization is used in the chemical industry. However, here we use not simple devices, but sleepless ones, with a special shielded electric motor, which does not require compaction. In this case, the motor rotor is mounted on the agitator shaft and covered with a thin-walled sealed shield. The latter, as a rule, is made of non-magnetic materials. This is necessary in order to avoid the possibility of penetration of magnetic lines from the stator to the rotor during normal operation of the tool.

Autoclave in the construction industry

Another area of application of these devices is construction, namely the production of some types of building materials. In this case, the autoclave for sterilization can be tunnel or deadlock. Outwardly it is a kind of pipe with a diameter of 3-6 meters. The length of this device can reach up to 20 meters. The entire pipe at the end is closed with a special lid with a bayonet lock. In this case, the deadlock autoclave for sterilization is closed with this instrument on one side, and the tunnel autoclave from two.

Autoclave in food industry

It is common to distinguish between vertical and horizontal devices. These devices can have different sizes and sterilization modes. In an autoclave of a horizontal type, for example, a back pressure is created with respect to each individual container with the product.