ESA/ESTEC - Dry Heat Steriliser (DHS)
The Life and physical sciences Instrumentation and life Support (LIS) Laboratory of ESTEC, ESA’s technical centre located in the Netherlands, is offering a sterilisation capability using a Lytzen Dry Heat Steriliser with a double-door unit designed for pass-through or single side operations. The chamber provides a class 5 clean room environment and fulfils in particular the ExoMars requirements for Dry Heat Sterilisation with respect to temperature and humidity control.
Dimensions
| Width | Depth | Height | Volume | |
| Chamber | 800mm | 1355mm | 1100mm | 1.20m3 |
| Exterior (overall) | 2100mm | 1855mm | ≈2415mm | - |
DHS Datasheet
| Steriliser type | H1F/1100 |
| Chamber clean room | Class 5 |
| Maximum temperature | 280 degrees |
| Heating time (up to 250) | App. 35 min |
| heating | Ramping possible (slow heating) |
| Humidity control | Scalable humidity control (default 1.2 g/kg) |
| Cooling | Forced water cooling |
| Cooling time (250C – 60C) | App. 60min |
| Delayed start after pre-heating | Possible, as well as defined drying phase before sterilisation start |
| Loading probes | 3 load probes (temperature sensors), flexible |
| Overpressure in chamber | Yes (20-70 Pascal) |
| Temperature distribution within 75mm from sides and 150mm from bottom | Temperature deviation +/- 4 degrees |
Overview of a typical sterilisation cycle
The graph presents an overview of a typical sterilisation cycle, in this case with a temperature of 125°C and a 6-hour sterilisation time. All parameters can be customised (including delayed start and slow heat up).
Sterilisation Chamber Description
The inner view of the sterilisation chamber is presented on picture 4. Three load probes (circled in red) can be placed in various positions inside the chamber to ensure that even cold spots obtain the right temperature (probes are used in the control loop). The air is filtered by special Lytzen HEPA filters. A mobile rack with 8 sets of fixed tray supports as well as a transfer trolley is available for easy handling of probes / material or hardware in general.
Sterilisation Chamber Description
The inner view of the sterilisation chamber is presented on picture 4. Three load probes (circled in red) can be placed in various positions inside the chamber to ensure that even cold spots obtain the right temperature (probes are used in the control loop). The air is filtered by special Lytzen HEPA filters. A mobile rack with 8 sets of fixed tray supports as well as a transfer trolley is available for easy handling of probes / material or hardware in general.
DHS Utilisation Costs
Costs for DHS utilisation is depending on the size and complexity of the item to be sterilised as well as the sterilisation duration. For instance, a 1-day simple sterilisation run will be in the order of 1000 to 1500 Euro including the LIS laboratory staff to operate the machine and documentation of the actual achieved sterilisation parameters.
For questions or further detailed information please contact:
Robert Lindner
Head of Life and Physical Sciences Instrumentation and Life Support Section
European Space Agency
European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
Keplerlaan 1 - Postbus 299
2200 AG Noordwijk
The Netherlands
Email: Robert.Lindner@esa.int
Tel. +31 71 56 54 678
Last update: 19 October 2011
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