5 Putting into operation
25
B-390
Operation Manual, Version E
5 .7
Pressure bottle
The pressure bottle is an autoclavable container used to push the encapsulation mixture by air pres-
sure into the bead producing unit.
Figure 5-9
shows the different parts of the pressure bottle. The
glass recipient has a guaranteed pressure resistance of 1.5 bar.
The liquid flow rate is controlled at two levels:
1. With the air pressure by the pressure regulation system, and
2. with the liquid flow regulating valve situated on top of the control unit. The reproducibility of the
liquid flow rate from one run to the other is usually ±5 %.
Figure 5-9:
Pressure bottle with HEPA filter for sterile pumping of the immobilization mixture with air pressure
a
Pressure stable flask of 500 mL or 1,000 mL
HEPA air filter
PTFE tube (4×6)
Silicone tube for liquid (4×7)
Silicone tube for air (5×8)
Luer lock male, 4.8 mm ID
Nipple for quick coupling
Two port cap
Cap with PTFE fitting for 6 mm tubes
The
air
passes through a silicone tube with an inner diameter of 5 mm (5×8 mm). The Hepa-filter
prevents contamination of the sterile immobilization mixture and should be replaced according to the
manufacturer’s instructions or if signs of reduced air passage are noticeable.
The
liquid
passes from the inside of the bottle through a PTFE tube (3×6 mm) to the silicone tube
outside of the bottle. This silicone tube is attached to the bead producing unit with the luer lock male
.
