It may take up to 3 years to show bacteria, viruses or cell cultures right into a vaccine. Since vaccines are injected straight into the body, safety and purity have the highest priority in production. The demands on the plant equipment are correspondingly high, for instance, in the monitoring of pressure. The PG43SA group of diaphragm pressure gauges from WIKA are tailored to the.
Designed completely in hygienic design: the diaphragm pressure gauges of the PG43SA series
Three instrument models to select from
The hygienic instruments with flush, welded diaphragm elements are suitable for pressure monitoring in all regions of vaccine production. This applies, not merely to the ?upstream? and ?downstream? stations, but additionally to the support processes.
There are three 3A and EHEDG-certified models to pick from:
PG43SA-S
PG43SA-D with integrated diaphragm element monitoring
PG43SA-C particularly compact with back mount process connection
Which variant a user chooses, and at which point in the process, depends on their safety requirements and the installation conditions ? although the model PG43SA-S already meets a large area of the requirements for pressure monitoring.
Critical situation instantly
The further the vaccine production progresses, the more valuable the product becomes. During the ?downstream? filtration processes, the near future active ingredient is increasingly purified. Here, pressure monitoring provides the decisive information concerning whether the filters remain working correctly or are clogging up and ought to be replaced. The model PG43SA-S with red limit value marking, for example, enables a critical situation to be detected, unmistakably, instantly.
In filtration plant, pressure monitoring is used, among other things, to check on the filter status also to draw attention to any clogging of the filter in good time.
Problem-free installation
That the compact nature of the instruments may also be important in this task is illustrated by way of a filtering at a vaccine manufacturer in China: in this instance, a peristaltic pump conveys the active component to the capsule filter via a hose. The challenge of the extremely cramped available space meant a little measuring instrument was required, and the model PG43SA-C met this.
The instrument was able to be easily mounted on the hose before and after the filter because of its process connection being integrated into the case ? a patented design. This measuring solution shows the operator whether the pump and filter are working normally. The PC43SA-C offers a good plan view because of this. Hence, it is also suitable for pressure monitoring in vertical pipelines.
The models in the PG43SA series, like all diaphragm pressure gauges, due to their mechanical principle, always reliably indicate the process pressure. They measure with high overload safety and independently of electricity. This meets the safety requirements, particularly when transporting the intermediate products and the finished vaccine. They are transported in mobile tanks from the bioreactor via chromatograph and filtration through to filling into ampoules.
Transparency in mobile tanks is known as an especially sensitive process step. The hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges of the PG43SA series provide all the necessary pressure information at any time, independent of electrical power.
Multiple tasks in a single application
When monitoring the pressure at the tanks, the PG43SA instruments fulfil several tasks: During transport, you should check if the pressure remains constant. That is also a leak test: a falling pressure could be due to a leaking valve or perhaps a damaged seal. After emptying the tank at the transfer point, one consider the display can determine whether there’s still pressure in the tank or whether it might be opened without danger. Exactly the same pertains to pressure monitoring during tank cleaning and the pressure test before refilling.
In tank applications, in addition to the measurement quality described, another advantage of diaphragm pressure gauges comes to the fore: the instruments work with a ?dry? measuring cell. This eliminates the risk of product contamination by way of a system fill fluid, as is the case with conventional diaphragm seal systems. In this way, they prevent potential damage which could amount to millions.
Moneygrubbing
In these and similar sensitive processes, the model PG43SA-D really helps to further minimise risks to the vaccine. The instrument comes with an integrated diaphragm element monitor with red/white indicator. In the unlikely event that the robust measuring element should break because of extreme process conditions or rough mechanical influences, the patented monitoring function immediately reports the damage via a ?red? indicator. Another barrier in the instrument maintains the separation of process and environment.
Ideal for CIP/SIP and autoclavable
Process reliability in vaccine production includes residue-free cleaning of the gear after each batch. Due to their hygienic design, the PG43SA diaphragm pressure gauges are suitable for CIP/SIP cleaning processes and are all autoclavable.
Note
You can find an overview and technical information on the PG43SA series hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges on the WIKA website or in our flyer: ?Safe and reliable: Pressure displays in hygienic design?. You would like to buy hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges? Inside our WIKA online-shop you will discover some of our standard designs. In case you have any questions, your contact will gladly assist you to.
Also read our articles
Pressure gauges for pharmaceutical processes: Flush-mounted dry measurement
Hygienic pressure gauge: IP68 with cleaning from the outside
The next video also informs you about the PG43SA instruments: