Question

Engineering report writing on autoclave (sterilizer) machine breakdown which occurs more often due to hard water/untreated water. The factors which leads to that and the solution to the problem. Recommendation and Summation to be included. Write 3 to 4 A4 pages.

Answer 1

Steam sterilization uses saturated steam to heat glassware, solutions or surgical instruments to achieve sterilization. The steam comes into contact with the items placed inside the autoclave. In the case of packed surgical instruments.

The quality of the water used in autoclaves can also affect their performance and lifetime. The steam produced by a facility’s in-house boiler system may not be appropriate for use with autoclaves, and dedicated steam generators may be preferred. Poor steam quality may impair the sterilization process. For this reason, various norms are now suggesting maximum impurity levels for steam feed water of autoclaves and sterilizer used in the medical field. In the case of benchtop autoclaves (e.g. dental autoclaves), care must be taken to clean the water reservoir regularly, and refill it with freshly purified water.

>water contaminants which have effect on autoclaves

-ions

-metals

-particles

-cloride

How hard water affect autoclave?

When hard water is boiled into pressurized steam or used to cool the waste, it leaves behind salt and mineral deposits within the steam generator, pipes, and valves. These deposits build up over time like layers of paint. As they build up, they decrease the efficiency and functionality of the steam generator in addition to clogging up pipes and valves.

Calcium carbonate naturally precipitates out of hard water, and will build up inside pipes and appliances—much the same way it builds up to form an oyster’s shell. This will occur more quickly in harder water—which has a higher concentration of calcium carbonate—and hot water systems. The resulting rock-hard build-up (called “scale” or “limescale”) damages valves and gaskets, and impedes flow. Over time valves get jammed and pipes become so full of lime that flow is significantly restricted. In order to address this before it becomes a problem, buildings owners install a “water softener” to capture some of the minerals in the water supply as it enters the building. This lowers the water’s overall “hardness,” significantly reducing the accumulation of scale and keeping everything flowing.

But scale accumulation isn’t just about clogged pipes. A study found that scale build-up in heating devices acts as a heat-sink, absorbing energy that would otherwise be directly transferred to the vessel. According to NMSU, residential water heaters hooked directly to hard water supplies accumulated four to ten times as much scale as those protected by a water softener. Because of this increased scale, those water heaters operating on untreated hard water steadily grow less efficient, and ultimately required 20 to 30 percent more energy to do the same work.

ard water is an example. Hard water can cause calcium and magnesium deposits in
washer-disinfectors and stains on instruments. These visible or invisible deposits can
protect spores during sterilization, may remain on chamber walls and can also clog machine
components.

scale build-up on your autoclave is going to drive up operating costs while straining the device. In under a year that unit is going to break down.

Lime-scale build up will also affect the operation of water level sensors and the efficient operation of valves.

lime-scale from hard water will start to coat the heaters, initially reducing their effectiveness and ultimately causing them to fail.

Solution of brdkdown of autoclave due to hard water

-To avoid unnecessary and costly maintenance and in some cases possible contamination of autoclave loads, close attention should be paid to the quality and condition of the water used to generate steam in electrically heated models.

-Distillation is the removal of dirt by boiling. The boiling water evaporates and is collected in
a clean container. Ionian and volatile organic compounds and chlorinated solvents are left
behind.

-By providing periodically cleaning of different parts of autoclave.

-By using distilled water for autoclave.

-Reverse osmosis occurs when water is projected under high pressure through a
semipermeable membrane. This is an extremely thin membrane, just like the cell
membranes that are found in both plants and animals. This membrane allows only small
molecules to get through; it separates bacteria and removes up to 98% of the salts in water.

-Use softener to soft the hard water before using for autoclave.

-Once per month clean the chamber with Chamber Brite. Sprinkle the Chamber Brite powder along the bottom of a cold autoclave chamber.

-Once per month clean the chamber with Chamber Brite. Sprinkle the Chamber Brite powder along the bottom of a cold autoclave chamber (if the unit is HOT fill with water first). Run a normal sterilization cycle without drying.

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1. Clean tray holder and trays with detergent, or a non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner and water, using a cloth or sponge. DO NOT use steel wool, a steel brush or bleach.