An autoclave is a device that performs the function of sterilizing any objects or products by heating and high pressure inside the chamber. It is at a high temperature and a certain level of pressure (as a rule, its value is below atmospheric pressure) that the effective elimination of various microorganisms, dust, dirt and other harmful substances accumulated on the surface of the device is achieved. What is this device and where is it used? Find out the answers to all these questions from our today's article.
Design Features
It is worth noting that the first sterilization autoclave, invented by Chamberlain back in 1879, is significantly different from today's device models. Depending on the type, this device can process devices with a volume from several tens of cubic centimeters toseveral hundred cubic meters. At the same time, the level of working pressure at which the sterilization process takes place can be about 150 MN/m2 (this is approximately 1500 kgf/cm2). It is also worth noting that the temperature inside this chamber reaches 500 degrees Celsius. For the entire time of sterilization, a constant temperature and pressure are maintained in the autoclave, the limit value of which we indicated a little higher. By the way, if such a process takes place without changing the pressure, then it will no longer be an autoclave, but a sterilizer (or the so-called drying cabinet).
Autoclave in medicine and chemical industry
This device is mainly used in medicine for processing various medical instruments. The autoclave for sterilization is also used in the chemical industry. However, not simple devices are used here, but glandless ones, with a special shielded electric motor that does not require sealing. In this case, the motor rotor is mounted on the agitator shaft and covered with a thin-walled hermetic screen. The latter, as a rule, is made of non-magnetic materials. This is necessary in order not to exclude the possibility of penetration of magnetic lines from the stator to the rotor during operation for the normal operation of the tool.
Autoclave in construction industry
Another area of application of these devices is construction, namely the production of certain types of building materials. In this case, the autoclave itself for sterilization can betunnel or dead end. 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 cap with a bayonet lock. In this case, the dead-end autoclave for sterilization is closed with this tool on one side, and the tunnel autoclave - on the two.
Autoclave in the food industry
Here it is customary to distinguish between vertical and horizontal devices. These devices can have different sizes and sterilization modes. In a horizontal type autoclave, for example, a back pressure is created against each individual product container.
