Evaluation of a rinsing-based cleaning process for pipes

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Process Engineering

Background:

• Effective cleaning of manufacturing equipment is crucial for product quality and safety.
• Residue removal from complex pipe geometries presents significant challenges in pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
• Understanding how pipe configuration affects cleaning efficiency is essential for process optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between pipe design (configuration) and the efficiency of cleaning operations.
• To quantify the impact of pipe components like bends and valves on residue accumulation.
• To develop a predictive model for residue concentration in cleaning solutions based on pipe geometry.

Main Methods:

• Construction of pipes with varying designs.
• Filling pipes with a model dermal solution product.
• Rinsing pipes with ethanol and analyzing rinsing solutions using gas chromatography.
• Developing and validating a predictive model based on experimental residue concentrations.

Main Results:

• Residue per surface area increases with the inclusion of bends and valves in pipe designs.
• Each bend was found to contribute an extra contamination equivalent to 25 cm of pipe length.
• Each valve was found to contribute an extra contamination equivalent to 100 cm of pipe length for pipes with 1.8 cm diameter.
• The additive contributions of bends and valves to residue accumulation were confirmed.
• The developed model accurately predicted residue concentrations in rinsing solutions.

Conclusions:

• Pipe configuration, specifically the presence of bends and valves, directly impacts cleaning efficiency.
• A quantitative model was established to predict residue accumulation based on pipe geometry.
• The findings provide valuable insights for designing easier-to-clean piping systems in relevant industries.