NEWSLETTER
ISSUE
May to Aug, 2018 Volume 6
LATEST INNOVATIONS
Pharmalab is a leading manufacturer of Multi-Effect Distillation Stills for Water for Injection (WFI- Grade). Capacities range from 80 L/hour to 15,000 L/hour. With more than 1,000 installations worldwide, we enjoy substantial customer loyalty and patronage.
The latest features include a higher grade of SS 316L (DIN 1.4435), expanded pipes in the tube sheet plates, a non-condensable gas removal system for the feed water, a unique purification system due to the purging of endotoxin rich condensate from each column, reduced cooling water requirement, and energy saving capabilities due to the reduced boiler steam consumption.
HIGHER GRADE SS 316L (DIN 1.4435)
Pharmalab uses high quality stainless steel, i.e., SS 316L (DIN 1.4435) in manufacturing the Multi-Effect Distillation Still and pure steam generators. This grade of stainless steel provides improved resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion.
Over a period of consistent usage, the stainless steel equipment employed for pure steam or WFI generation tends to face the problem of intergranular corrosion. This is a form of corrosion where the boundaries of crystallite materials are more susceptible to corrosion than their insides due to the precipitation of chromium carbide, resulting into the formation of chromium depleted zones adjacent to the grain boundaries. This process is known as sensitization, and is a result of the exposure of steel to high temperatures.
SS 316L (DIN 1.4435) is attained through the optimization of composition and microstructure, as well as by the absence of hard inclusions. The composition has a higher density of chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, which significantly improve the resistance compared to other CrNi-steels, allowing the use of this steel at temperatures up to 450ĖC in continuous operation. The SS 316L (DIN 1.4435) can be well-polished, has high malleability, and excellent welding properties. Furthermore, this steel is also less susceptible to pitting. It contains a controlled sulphur concentration of 0.015 ā 0.03% that improves machinability. With all the above characteristics and increased impact strength, this stainless steel is increasingly suitable for the purpose, making it the first choice for premium manufacturers across the globe for pure steam and WFI generation systems.
Being an internationally renowned brand, Pharmalab too uses the best grade of stainless steel available in the market, i.e. SS 316L (DIN 1.4435), out of the numerous other options present (refer to Table 1). This ensures higher corrosion resistance, thus leading to truly durable equipment.
*source: www.outokumpu.com
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VFD based control system for WFI generation plant
The WFI generation plant is an integral part of a sterile Pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. Therefore, efficient operation of this equipment is of utmost importance. With our constant efforts on product development, we ensure that the equipment achieves its highest efficiency.
In the WFI generation system, the output flow often varies. It may be due to various reasons like demand variation of WFI in the manufacturing plant, fluctuation in plant steam pressure, fluctuation in feed water flow rate etc. These variations require flow regulation of the feed water. Conventionally this flow regulation is achieved with the provision of a proportionate control valve (PCV). While regulating with PCV, Pharmalab made the following observations which were indispensable for further improvement.
1. Feed water pump always runs with constant rpm irrespective of the change in output flow. So, the power consumed by the pump is constant, or rather, it increases with resistance of PCV.
2. Variation in pressure on the feed water pump affects its life due to wear and tear.
3. Frequent changes in output flow leads to PCV malfunctions giving an inconsistent flow rate at different pressure levels.
With the aim to increase the efficiency with respect to the above observation, the Pharmalab think tank proposed a control system of feed water regulation with an inbuilt Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). The VFD based system controls the rpm of the feed water pump to regulate the water flow. This system eliminates the requirement of PCV, and the problems associated with the use of PCV. Moreover, the VFD based control system ensures proportionate power consumption, increased pump life and consistent flow rate with uninterrupted operation. Additionally, elimination of PCV results in a more uniform interconnecting piping with improved aesthetic of the WFI generation plant.
Thus, opting for an inbuilt VFD based control system for WFI generation ensures efficient and interrupted operation.
For any further queries, feel free to write on
ph*******@ph*******.com
