It can take up to 3 years to turn bacteria, viruses or cell cultures right into a vaccine. Since vaccines are injected directly into your body, safety and purity have the best priority in production. The demands on the plant equipment are correspondingly high, for example, 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 pick 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 choose 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 ? even though model PG43SA-S already meets a big the main 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 future active component is increasingly purified. Here, pressure monitoring provides the decisive information concerning whether the filters are still working correctly or are clogging up and should be replaced. The model PG43SA-S with red limit value marking, for instance, enables a crucial 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 focus on any clogging of the filter in good time.
Problem-free installation
That the compact nature of the instruments can even be important in this is illustrated by way of a filtering at a vaccine manufacturer in China: in this case, a peristaltic pump conveys the active ingredient to the capsule filter with a hose. The challenge of the extremely cramped available space meant a small measuring instrument was required, and the model PG43SA-C met this.
The instrument was able to be easily mounted on the hose before and following the filter because of its process connection being integrated into the case ? a patented design. Trade Secret measuring solution shows the operator whether the pump and filter are working normally. The PC43SA-C supplies a good plan view for this. Hence, it is also ideal 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 procedure pressure. They measure with high overload safety and independently of electricity. This meets the safety requirements, especially when transporting the intermediate products and the finished vaccine. These are transported in mobile tanks from the bioreactor via chromatograph and filtration systems through to filling into ampoules.
Vaccine transport in mobile tanks is considered a particularly sensitive process step. The hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges of the PG43SA series provide all the necessary pressure information at any time, independent of electrical energy.
Multiple tasks in one application
When monitoring the pressure at the tanks, the PG43SA instruments fulfil several tasks: During transport, it is important to check whether the pressure remains constant. This is also a leak test: a falling pressure could be due to a leaking valve or 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 applies to pressure monitoring during tank cleaning and the pressure test before refilling.
In tank applications, as well as the measurement quality described, another benefit 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.
Further risk minimisation
In these and similar sensitive processes, the model PG43SA-D really helps to further minimise risks to the vaccine. The instrument has an integrated diaphragm element monitor with red/white indicator. In the unlikely event that the very robust measuring element should break due to extreme process conditions or rough mechanical influences, the patented monitoring function immediately reports the damage with a ?red? indicator. 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. Because of their hygienic design, the PG43SA diaphragm pressure gauges are ideal for CIP/SIP cleaning processes and are all autoclavable.
Note
You can find an overview and technical details of the PG43SA series hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges on the WIKA website or inside our flyer: ?Safe and reliable: Pressure displays in hygienic design?. You would like to buy hygienic diaphragm pressure gauges? In our WIKA online-shop you will discover a few of our standard designs. If 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: