New boiler is a UK first for clean steam standards says Fulton
Fulton Boiler Works has become one of the UK’s first companies to design a self-contained electrically powered unit that provides clean steam to EC directive standards.
The new Fulton Clean Steam boiler complies with current EC directives stating that pyrogen-free steam is now essential for the manufacture of medical devices/products and sterilisation services.
When medical equipment and products are sterilised using steam, water droplets, which can contain pyrogens, are left on the surface of the sterilised load as it cools. If the equipment is used for invasive surgery this can lead to post-operative infections.
Cleaning up the steam produced from conventional boiler plants can be very expensive, is not always successful and requires a high level of service monitoring and maintenance.
The boiler is based on the proven Fulton EFS flash steam boiler and is designed for high demand, short-term peak loads of up to 300 kg/h.
The boiler is manufactured from 316 stainless steel and all internal surfaces are passivated to provide a corrosion resistant surface. The boiler is designed to operate in conjunction with RO quality water, which is preheated in a temperature controlled feedwater tank to ensure that the feedwater non-condensable gases are reduced to a minimum and bacterial growth is prevented.
The tank is fitted with temperature and level alarms with interlocks to shut down the boiler should significant temperature variations be detected.
The boiler uses 24V AC control circuits and provides indication and volt free contacts for all alarm conditions. It is supplied with a standby pressure control system to maintain it at sterile, low-pressure conditions when not in use.
A number of the new boilers have already been installed in NHS and private hospitals in the UK and Europe with steam quality validated to HM2031 and EN285 requirements.