Ensuring Absolute Sterility: Principle of Operation and Control in Steam Sterilizers

Main task — complete destruction of microorganisms

Sterilization refers to the process of completely eliminating all forms of life, including the most resistant bacterial spores. The criterion for the sterility of an item is considered to be the probability of detecting a viable microorganism on it less than 1 case per 1,000,000. Instruments and equipment that have undergone such treatment are primarily used in medicine and related fields, as well as in pharmaceutical manufacturing and the food industry.

The most effective and preferred method is sterilization with saturated steam under pressure, for which a special device is used — a steam sterilizer, or autoclave.

How steam sterilization works

The device's mechanism is similar to the principle of a household steamer. In a sealed chamber, water is heated to boiling, resulting in the formation of saturated steam. Due to the enclosed space, the steam has nowhere to escape, allowing its temperature to rise above 100 °C simultaneously with an increase in pressure inside the chamber. This "saturated steam" is the key sterilizing agent. When it contacts the cooler surfaces of instruments, the steam condenses, transferring a large amount of thermal energy to them, which leads to the destruction of all present pathogens.

A critically important condition for success is the complete replacement of air inside the chamber with steam. For this, during the preparation stage, a vacuum is created using a vacuum pump — pressure below atmospheric. The resulting vacuum allows the steam to evenly and quickly fill the entire volume. The process of air removal and steam supply can be repeated cyclically until a homogeneous environment necessary for quality treatment is achieved.

The role of precise measurements in process control

Maintaining strictly specified temperature and pressure parameters throughout the entire cycle is the key to sterilization effectiveness. To equip medical equipment manufacturers, the company "Izmerkon" offers specialized pressure transmitters series 35XHT, which are perfectly adapted for integration into autoclave systems. These sensors provide continuous monitoring and precise regulation of both critical parameters, ensuring the process complies with established standards.

In steam sterilization practice, two operating modes are most common:

1. Standard cycle: temperature 121°C, absolute pressure 2.1 bar, holding time — 15 minutes.
2. Accelerated (forced) cycle: temperature 134°C, absolute pressure 3.04 bar, holding time — 3 minutes.

The use of reliable measuring equipment allows these processes to be automated and their repeatability guaranteed, which is the foundation for producing safe sterile products.

For additional information about the device, you can contact IZMERKON by phone at +7 (812) 309 56 05 or via the feedback form.