STRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE MEASURES AND TROUBLESHOOTING OF STEAM STERILIZERS.

Аннотация

Steam sterilizers are of great importance in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and their main task is to clean equipment and materials from microorganisms. This work examines in detail the structure, maintenance measures and troubleshooting methods of steam sterilizers. Structurally, steam sterilizers use steam under pressure to carry out a disinfection process at high temperatures. Their main components are a boiler, a steam extraction system, control and automation devices, as well as sensors for measuring temperature and pressure. Maintenance measures are necessary to ensure the effective operation of sterilizers. These measures include regular cleaning, technical supervision and necessary repairs. Malfunctions can occur for various reasons, such as pressure drops, temperature changes or problems with the mechanical parts of the device. To eliminate these malfunctions, methods such as diagnostics, repairs and replacement of spare parts are used. This study provides important information for https://scientific-jl.com/luch/ 8 8 Часть-44_ Том-2_ Май-2025 improving the efficiency of steam sterilizers and solving problems that arise during their use. Keywords: malfunction, sterilization, diagnostics, gravity, Bowie-Dick, lid, whistle, manometer, valve, vacuum. There are two types of steam sterilizers, gravity-driven steam sterilizers and high-velocity steam pre-vacuum sterilizers. Gravity-driven steam sterilizers: are used primarily for processing laboratory media, water, pharmaceuticals, regulated medical waste, and items whose non-porous surfaces come into direct contact with the steam. Steam is introduced from the top or sides of the sterilization chamber. It displaces the air in the bottom of the chamber through a drain outlet. Since the air is not completely evacuated, the steam penetration time on porous objects increases. Not intended for high-temperature sensitive devices. High-velocity steam-driven vacuum sterilizers: air completely penetrates the porous material. The Bowie-Dick test is used. It uses surgical gauze pads to detect air leaks or inadequate air removal from the sterilization chamber. Procedure. Place the Bowie-Dick test strip in the center of the test bag placed in the sterilization chamber and operate the chamber at 134 degrees for 4 minutes. The test is considered passed if the test strip in the test bag shows uniform color changes. The sterilization chamber can be equipped with a vacuum pump to ensure that all air is removed before steam is introduced. The Bowie-Dick type of sheet is specially designed to simulate the materials to be sterilized and to test the effectiveness of the vacuum system in the autoclave that creates the initial vacuum. Structure of steam sterilization. The high-pressure chamber is the main component of the autoclave. It consists of an inner chamber and an outer shell. The inner chamber is a stainless steel or bronze shell, and the outer chamber is a steel shell. Autoclaves used in medical laboratories and hospitals have an outer shell https://scientific-jl.com/luch/ 8 9 Часть-44_ Том-2_ Май-2025 filled with steam to reduce the time it takes to reach the sterilization temperature. The inner chamber is the housing in which the materials to be sterilized are placed. The volume of the high-pressure chamber can range from 100 to 3,000 liters. Lid: isolates from the outside atmosphere and maintains the required temperature and pressure inside the autoclave. Consists of three parts: pressure gauge, whistle, and safety valve. Pressure gauge: indicates the pressure generated in the autoclave during sterilization. Ensures the safe operation of the sterilizer and the operating condition for operation. Whistle: controls the pressure inside the chamber by releasing a set amount of steam. Safety valve: has a thin rubber layer, if the steam sterilizer fails to do its job, this layer bursts to reduce the pressure inside the chamber Steam generator: is located at the bottom of the chamber. It has an electric heating system that heats the water it produces inside the chamber. Users should always check that there is enough water in the generator to ensure the smooth running of the process and to prevent burning or excessive wear of the autoclave parts. Vacuum generator: removes air from the chamber, as air bubbles in the chamber can create a breeding ground for any organisms and thus prevent the equipment from being sterilized. Wastewater cooler: cools the waste before it enters the drain pipes. The purpose of the wastewater cooler is to reduce the temperature of the high-temperature hot water before it is discharged into the drain pipes to prevent damage to the pipes. https://scientific-jl.com/luch/ 9 0 Часть-44_ Том-2_ Май-2025 Control/adjustment system: most sterilizers are equipped with a control interface. The sterilization cycle follows a pre-programmed software program that opens and closes valves and other components in a specific sequence. Thermostatic valve: A