It may take up to three years to turn bacteria, viruses or cell cultures right into a vaccine. Since vaccines are injected straight into the body, safety and purity have the best priority in production. The demands on the plant equipment are correspondingly high, for instance, in the tabs on 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 choose from
The hygienic instruments with flush, welded diaphragm elements are suitable for pressure monitoring in every areas of vaccine production. This applies, not only to the ?upstream? and ?downstream? stations, but also to the support processes.
You can find 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 upon their safety requirements and the installation conditions ? although the model PG43SA-S already meets a large portion of the requirements for pressure monitoring.
Critical situation instantly
The further the vaccine production progresses, the more valuable the merchandise becomes. During the ?downstream? filtration processes, the near future active component is increasingly purified. Here, pressure monitoring supplies the decisive information concerning whether the filters are still working correctly or are clogging up and have to be replaced. The model PG43SA-S with red limit value marking, for example, enables a critical situation to be detected, unmistakably, at a glance.
In filtration plant, pressure monitoring is used, among other things, to check on the filter status and to draw attention to any clogging of the filter in good time.
Problem-free installation
That the compact nature of the instruments can also be important in this task is illustrated by way of a filtration system at a vaccine manufacturer in China: in cases like this, a peristaltic pump conveys the active component to the capsule filter with a hose. The challenge of the very cramped available space meant a small measuring instrument was required, and the model PG43SA-C met this.
The instrument could be easily mounted on the hose before and after the filter due to its process connection being built-into the case ? a patented design. This measuring solution shows the operator if the pump and filter will work normally. The PC43SA-C supplies a good plan view for this. It is therefore also ideal for pressure monitoring in vertical pipelines.
The models in the PG43SA series, like all diaphragm pressure gauges, because of their mechanical principle, always reliably indicate the process pressure. They measure with high overload safety and independently of electrical energy. This meets the safety requirements, particularly when transporting the intermediate products and the finished vaccine. These are transported in mobile tanks from the bioreactor via chromatograph and filtration through to filling into ampoules.
Vaccine transport in mobile tanks is known as a particularly sensitive process step. The hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges of the PG43SA series provide all the necessary pressure information anytime, independent of electrical energy.
Multiple tasks in a single application
When monitoring the pressure at the tanks, the PG43SA instruments fulfil several tasks: During transport, you should check whether the pressure remains constant. This is also a leak test: a falling pressure could be because of 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 can 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 utilize a ?dry? measuring cell. This eliminates the risk of product contamination by 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.
Further risk minimisation
In these and similar sensitive processes, the model PG43SA-D 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 with a ?red? Vibrant . A second 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 ideal for CIP/SIP cleaning processes and so are all autoclavable.
Note
You can find a synopsis and technical information on the PG43SA series hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges on the WIKA website or inside our flyer: ?Safe and reliable: Pressure displays in hygienic design?. You want to buy hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges? In our WIKA online-shop you will find a few of our standard designs. If Proven 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: