Clean steam is saturated steam made from purified water that is used to sanitize equipment in cleanrooms, pharmaceutical manufacturing and processing facilities, and medical settings. It allows for non-contact cleaning of equipment, including corners and tight or enclosed spaces.
In addition to generating clean steam, the system must be designed to prevent internal corrosion both within the steam system and in the equipment being sanitized. Microbes and other contaminants also need to be prevented from entering the steam system and reaching equipment or products. Controlling contaminants prevents products from becoming tainted and increases the service life of equipment.
Here, we’ll look at how preventing contamination in a clean steam generation system keeps equipment sterile and maintains product quality and purity.
How a Clean Steam Generator Works to Prevent Corrosion
Avoiding corrosion is essential to the upkeep and operation of clean steam generation and processing equipment. Keeping particles of rust and other corrosion by-products out of equipment and manufactured products is critical to product quality and safety as well.
Standard utility steam used for industrial processes that don’t require sterile steam is generated with water heated in a boiler. The components in the system can be made with various metals, most of which can rust. As a result, the water is generally treated with anti-corrosion chemicals to prevent rust and other forms of corrosion in the steam generator system and in the equipment it feeds.
Unlike the water used for utility steam, there are no corrosion inhibitors in clean steam feedwater. In most cases, purified water or water filtered by reverse osmosis (RO) is used to create clean steam. For this reason, it is important to use materials that resist corrosion such as 316L stainless steel, titanium, and PTFE or EPDM polymer materials.
Even when 316L stainless steel is used, rouging corrosion can occur, in which the steel’s surface becomes covered with a red-brown film. While not problematic itself, this film can develop a powdery coating, which can detach and contaminate the steam. Periodic derouging removes the build-up.
Preventing Entry of Contaminants
Clean steam must always be free of contaminants at the point of use. These can include chemicals, rust or other particles from the corrosion process, bacteria, molds, and dirt or debris. Care must be taken to avoid common causes of contamination, including:
Leaks in steam traps, hoses, or feedwater tanks
Outside air that gets pulled into the system
Standing condensation that permits bacterial growth
Corrosion in tanks, heat exchangers, or other equipment
Bacteria that grow through RO membranes and other surfaces can get into the system over time
Preventing Microbial Growth
Steam can kill bacteria and spores at typical operating pressures, and therefore components of a clean steam generation system that experience continuous exposure to steam will remain free from these contaminants. However, if condensate collects in the system and cools, the standing water can create an environment that permits bacterial growth.
Byproducts from the destruction and breakdown of bacteria, including endotoxins, remain in the system and cannot be destroyed by the steam. Endotoxins are often lipopolysaccharides from the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria or pyrogens. They are a major concern in the manufacture and processing of injectable pharmaceutical products.
Standing condensation can be prevented by angling pipes and traps to collect any water that collects. Traps, piping, and tubing should also be checked for leaks or damage regularly.
Contact Electro-Steam for Clean Steam Generators
At Electro-Steam, we provide high-quality, electric-fired clean steam systems for pharmaceutical, medical, and cleanroom use. Our offerings include steam generators and steam sanitization systems and accessories for industrial process steam and food processing applications. Our experienced and knowledgeable team can also design a customized system to meet your requirements.
Contact us to learn more about how clean steam generators work or to request a quote for your application.
There are certain industries where cleanliness and sterilization must be a priority; the pharmaceutical industry is one of them. Pharmaceutical workers rely on steam cleaning for fast, efficient sterilization.
Pharmaceutical applications use clean steam, which is created from treated water of either RO or DI quality. They also commonly use autoclaves, or steam cleaners, which are machines that use pressurized steam to kill viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms on the items placed inside the sterilizer chamber. These autoclaves can be as small as a microwave, making it easy to keep them in labs, clinics, and other medical facilities, or even to transport them from room to room or facility to facility. Hospitals and busy labs may use larger models that can sterilize many pieces of equipment at the same time.
What Is an Autoclave and How Does It Work?
In an autoclave, pressurized steam reaches temperatures of 250-273 °F (115–134 °C), which is hot enough to kill mold spores, viruses, and bacteria. The higher the temperature, the less time the items must remain inside the autoclave. For example, at 250 °F, the items would have to remain inside for 15 minutes to ensure sterilization; at a temperature of 273 °F, they would only need to stay for three minutes. Autoclaves are common in pharmaceutical, medical, dental, and laboratory facilities, and they’re used to sterilize tools, equipment, and even waste.
Autoclaves work by removing the air around the items that are to be sterilized, which allows the steam to penetrate the surface of the objects. There are two ways to achieve this with two specific types of autoclaves:
Gravity Displacement Autoclaves: Steam is heavier than the air in the chamber, so the machine injects the steam—which forces the air out via the drain vent. It’s the simpler of the two types of autoclaves, and it’s common in labs and for use with biowaste. It does, however, take longer to work than a prevacuum autoclave, because it takes time for the air to leave the chamber or some air may get trapped inside; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mention that 10 pounds of microbiological waste would require at least 45 minutes in a gravity displacement autoclave at a temperature of 121°C.
Pre Vacuum Autoclaves: A vacuum removes the air from the chamber first, then the steam is injected. This allows the steam to go right to work on the objects inside. This is the preferred type of autoclave for use with large, porous objects.
Items in the Pharmaceutical Industry That Can Be Sterilized With Steam
Because steam sterilization is cost-effective, non-toxic, and time-efficient, autoclaves are common in a variety of medical and pharmaceutical facilities. In hospitals, they’re more likely to be called steam sterilizers, while in laboratories they’re more often called autoclaves; however, they are the same thing.
While items made of polyethylene, polyurethane, and polystyrene cannot be steam cleaned, many of the other tools and devices in use in medical facilities can be sterilized in an autoclave. This includes respiratory therapy and anesthesia equipment, dental instruments, sharps containers, and more—basically, anything that is heat and moisture resistant. Microbiological waste can be decontaminated in an autoclave, but it typically requires more time inside.
Sterilizing equipment in an autoclave is fast and efficient, and it doesn’t require a team of people devoted solely to cleaning after everyone else has gone home for the day. Instead, technicians and medical practitioners can sanitize as they go along, ensuring their equipment is always free from potential disease-causing microorganisms.
Clean Steam Units From Electro-Steam for the Pharmaceutical Industry
Our stainless steel line of clean steam generators are just a few of the many generators we offer at Electro-Steam. Available in various sizes, these are ideal for steam sterilization in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals and clinics, surgery centers, labs, veterinary clinics, and pharmaceutical production facilities. Our stand-alone units can pipe easily into any autoclave brand, or you can choose an integral unit that will fit in or under most autoclaves. Either way, you get high-quality steam and efficient sterilization. Our stainless steel clean steam generators are ASME CSD-1 compliant and feature a high-pressure safety reset, dual-pressure controls, and low-level cut-off.
Since 1952, Electro-Steam has been proudly manufacturing steam generators in the United States, and we’re committed to providing our clients around the globe with high-quality solutions. If you can’t find the equipment you’re looking for, our team can create a custom solution designed to meet your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our extensive catalog and our customization capabilities.
Proudly Manufactured in the USA 
