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Application Overview
Greg Nelson, National Sales Manager, Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc.
A medical device manufacturer uses cobalt 60 and other isotopes to sterilize medical and pharmaceutical components. The process requires a conveyor system that moves the products through specially protected radiation rooms, where they are bombarded with Gamma rays.
The environment is deadly to humans. Before personnel can enter the room to handle the sterilized equipment, all of the radioactive isotopes are lowered into a 24 foot bath of chilled water. This effectively shields the workers from any gamma ray emissions.
The protective immersion pool is subject to potentially hazardous temperature spikes due to the isotopes. System engineers developed a temperature controlled drain and fill system which requires 10-20 actuated valves to circulate the cooling water.
Plast-O-Matic Actuated Ball Valves were specified for their high flow rates, reliability, and blow-out proof design. The CAFE actuator was critical due to its optional one-second cycle time, which has been instrumental in minimizing temperature differential (ΔT ) in the cooling water. This rapid cycling also maintains the required 65º temperatures with less frequent actuations, which allows longer maintenance intervals for valve inspections.
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