Method for cleaning dissolution vessels and subsequent dosing of a dissolution media, and mobile modular cleaning and dosing equipment for the implementation thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning dissolution vessels and for the subsequent dosing of a dissolution media, and to mobile modular cleaning and dosing equipment for the implementation of said method. According to said method, injected water steam is used for the cleaning and is subsequently aspirated, together with the residues of the dissolution, and the vessel is then refilled with the desired quantity of a new dissolution media. The mobile modular cleaning and dosing equipment allows the cleaning and dosing to be carried out in situ without having to remove the dissolution vessels from the equipment or site where the dissolution tests are carried out, using self-sufficient modular equipment, and a novel steam supply line is used for the cleaning, which sprays the steam against the bottom of the vessel and the inner side walls.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a dissolution vessel and subsequent dosing of a dissolution medium with a cleaning and dosing apparatus, comprising: fitting an adjustable cover over an opening of the dissolution vessel, wherein an aspiration tube is mechanically coupled to an outlet orifice of the cover, a dissolution media supply line is mechanically coupled to a first inlet orifice of the cover, and a steam supply line is mechanically coupled to a second inlet orifice of the cover, and wherein the aspiration tube, the dissolution media supply line and the steam supply line are mechanically coupled to the cover in a seal-tight manner; operating, with a control unit of the apparatus, at least one aspiration pump to suck used dissolution medium contained in the dissolution vessel, wherein the used dissolution medium is sucked through the aspiration tube, and wherein the used dissolution medium is transferred through an aspiration line into a waste tank; operating, with the control unit, at least one steam distributor to inject heated steam into the dissolution vessel through the steam supply line; operating, with the control unit, the at least one aspiration pump to suck the steam from the dissolution vessel through the aspiration tube, wherein the steam is transferred through the aspiration line into the waste tank; operating, with the control unit, at least one dosing pump to transfer a predefined amount of unused dissolution medium from a dissolution medium deposit to a dosing deposit, the predefined amount of the unused dissolution medium is determined using a gravimetric measuring device, wherein the unused dissolution medium had been preheated by a heating system of the apparatus; and operating, with the control unit, the at least one dosing pump to transfer the predefined amount of unused dissolution medium from the dosing deposit to the dissolution vessel through the dissolution medium supply line, wherein the at least one steam distributor is positioned inside the dissolution vessel and connected to the steam supply line through said second inlet orifice, the at least one steam distributor comprises upper seals, an inner channel for the circulation of steam and a plurality of holes arranged perpendicularly to the channel with outer opening so that the steam is radially supplied against inner walls of the dissolution vessel; and wherein the dissolution vessel is configured within a housing in the dosing and cleaning apparatus and retained stationary in the housing throughout the fitting step and each of the operating steps.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding a neutralizing solution to the waste tank after the waste tank is emptied in order to condition the used dissolution medium transferred into the waste tank.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding an anti-foam solution to the waste tank in order to condition the used dissolution medium transferred into the waste tank.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding one or more chemical additives to the steam injected into the dissolution vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: diagram of the modular equipment

(2) FIG. 2 a: top view of the steam distributor

(3) FIG. 2 b: side view of the steam distributor

LIST OF REFERENCES

(4) 1. Modular cleaning and dosing equipment for dissolution vessels.

(5) 2. Dosing module

(6) 3. Steam generation module

(7) 4. Aspiration module

(8) 5. Cover module

(9) 6. Dissolution vessel

(10) 7. Cover

(11) 8. Aspiration tube

(12) 9. Steam distributor

(13) 10. Steam supply line

(14) 11. Dissolution media supply line

(15) 12. Aspiration line

(16) 13. Aspiration pump

(17) 14. Waste tank

(18) 15. Draining pump

(19) 16. Boiler

(20) 17. Filling pump

(21) 18. Supply deposit to the boiler

(22) 19. Dissolution media deposit

(23) 20. Gravimetric measuring device

(24) 21. Dosing deposit

(25) 22. Dosing pump

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(26) FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the mobile modular equipment for cleaning and dosing dissolution vessels in which the aspiration module and water steam generation module are joined to the same assembly and separated from the dosing and cover modules. In this embodiment, the module interconnection tubing, along with quick coupling fittings and wheeled transport means for the module assembly are conveniently arranged.

(27) This equipment requires general conditioning prior to the start of the cleaning and dosing method, consisting of the preparing steam via the supply of water to the boiler from the filling deposit using the filling pump; heating, preferably using electrical heater, the water until evaporation and overheating up to reach a minimum pressure level indicated by the sensor; and optionally, introducing a neutralizer/anti-foam solution to condition the dissolution media to be aspirated inside of the waste tank. Likewise, the dissolution media to be dosed must preferably be preheated using electrical heater to the pre-set temperature.

(28) The washing and dosing method in this embodiment are carried out independently of each other.

(29) The method begins with the placement of the cover in the top of the dissolution vessel and then actuating the manual switch to indicate to the control module to start the process.

(30) The washing method necessarily implies aspiration of the dissolution media present in the dissolution vessel through the aspiration tube and transferring it into the waste tank, preferably being introduced through the bottom of the same, which is mixed with the media present in the tank and, optionally, with the neutralizing and/or anti-foam solution previously added during the conditioning stage.

(31) After the washing thereof, steam from the boiler is added to the dissolution vessel through the steam line connected to the steam distributor, FIGS. 2a and 2b, which enables it to be radially and symmetrically projected onto the inner walls of the vessel so that it may be cleaned better. The steam is aspirated using the aspiration tube and taken to the waste tank via the aspiration line, such that the cleaning process has been carried out.

(32) When the level of the waste tank exceeds a limit predetermined by the maximum level sensor, the waste tank, through the draining pump, expels the already used dissolution media, sending it to the suitable storage and waste treatment devices. The end of the draining process is determined using a minimum level sensor of the waste tank.

(33) When the water level in the boiler exceeds the pre-set lower limit, the filling pump of the boiler will replace the water and start the conditioning process once again

(34) The method for dosing the dissolution media begins with transferring the pre-set amount of the media, previously heated in the conditioning process, to the dosing deposit, preferably determined by gravimetric load cell measurement devices, said transferring to the dissolution vessel is performed using the dosing pump.

(35) When the level of the dissolution media present in the media tank exceeds a predetermined lower limit, it will be necessary to replace the dissolution media and begin the conditioning process once again.

(36) The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used to manufacture the tools of the invention may be conveniently replaced with others that are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essence of or the scope defined in the claims included below: