Keofitt W9, User Manual, Page: 16 / 50

KEOFITT W9 USER MANUAL V.4 PAGE 16
3.10 Valve cleaning / disinfection / sterilisation
The table below describes the two fundamentally different ways of preparing the valve for sampling,
1) Chemical cleaning/disinfection and 2) Steaming:
Method Description Pros & Cons
Chemic
al
Chemical
cleaning
Liquid detergents are used to clean the
valve.
CIP = Clean-In-Place
This process is adopted where steam
is not available or where the product
cannot withstand the exposure to heat.
Involves several stages with flushing,
cleaning and rinsing between batches.
Chemical
disinfection
A disinfection process using an
appropriate chemical liquid disinfectant
usually follows the cleaning process.
The valve interior is wetted, soaked
or flushed with an appropriate
disinfectant.
It adds 2 more stages to the CIP:
application of disinfectant and final
rinse.
Involves handling of potentially
hazardous chemicals.
Thermal
Sterilisation Steam is supplied for 1 minute just
before and immediately after sampling.
Steaming does flushing, cleaning,
rinsing and sterilisation in one
operation.
Steaming may be less suitable with very
heat sensitive products.
Steaming entails the risk of burns.
Flushing with water followed by the supply of a chemical detergent through the upper of the valve’s two
hose pieces results in cleaning the valve (CIP). It is the perfect, hygienic design and surface finish of the
inner part of the valve, which enables easy, efficient and reliable cleaning in a closed state of the valve.
Supplying steam through the upper of the valve’s two hose pieces results in cleaning and sterilisation. It
is the perfect, hygienic design and surface finish of the inner part of the valve, which enables sterilisation
in a closed state. According to an EHEDG based test conducted by the Biotechnological Institute in
Denmark, the valve is sterile after just 1 minute’s supply of steam at a pressure of 1 bar(g), 121 ºC.
Steaming is therefore an SIP process (Sterilise-In-Place).
Following CIP or SIP, but prior to sampling, a sterile plug of rubber or stainless steel is fitted to the top
hose piece. When the valve is opened the process product will run out of the lower hose piece.
WARNING
• During sterilisation with steam the valve will become hot and care should thus be taken when
operating the valve
• The valve is designed for use in working conditions of up to 6 bar(g) pressure and temperatures
of up to 121 C. It is therefore important to be aware that the rubber plug (designed for max. 3
bar(g)) or the steel plug (designed for max. 10 bar(g)) may be forced out at high speed, if not
seated properly
• When steaming always use dry saturated steam without condensation at max. 1 bar(g). At higher
pressure the membrane may be damaged/split
• Always remember to use safety goggles when steaming, CIPping, taking samples and all other
operations of the sampling valve