Pass Through Chamber
Contamination prevention: The primary advantage of pass - through chambers is their ability to prevent contamination. By serving as a buffer zone, they minimize the direct transfer of dust, particles, and microorganisms between different areas.
Enhanced air tightness: The doors of pass - through chambers are equipped with high - quality sealing mechanisms, and the interlocking system ensures that only one door is open at a time. Convenient material transfer: Pass - through chambers provide a convenient way to transfer materials, equipment, and even personnel between different areas.
Space - saving: Compared to other methods of separating and connecting different areas, pass - through chambers are relatively compact. They can be installed in limited spaces, providing an efficient solution for facilities where space is at a premium.
A pass - through chamber is an important facility in clean room environments and other controlled - access areas. It serves as a transitional space that allows for the transfer of materials, equipment, and sometimes personnel between different areas while minimizing the potential for contamination or the spread of unwanted substances. Here is a detailed introduction:
Structure and Components
Chamber Body: Usually made of stainless steel or other corrosion - resistant and easy - to - clean materials, the chamber body provides a sealed enclosure. It has smooth inner surfaces to prevent the accumulation of dust, dirt, and microorganisms, facilitating effective cleaning and disinfection.
Doors: There are at least two doors on opposite sides of the pass - through chamber. These doors are often equipped with advanced sealing mechanisms to ensure airtightness when closed. They can be manual or automatic, and are designed to open and close smoothly to prevent the generation of dust and minimize the disruption of the air pressure and cleanliness in the surrounding areas.
Interlocking System: An interlocking device is installed to ensure that only one door can be opened at a time. This prevents direct air exchange and the entry of contaminants between the two connected areas, maintaining the integrity of the clean or controlled environment.
Internal Fixtures: Some pass - through chambers equipped with shelves, trays, or other fixtures to facilitate the placement and transfer of items. These fixtures are also made of clean - room - compatible materials and are designed to be easily removable for cleaning.
Working Principle
The pass - through chamber operates based on the principle of creating a buffer zone. When an item needs to be transferred from one area to another, it is placed in the chamber through one door. After the first door is closed and sealed, the chamber can be subjected to various treatments such as air purification, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, or chemical sterilization, depending on the specific requirements of the process. Once the treatment is complete, the other door is opened, allowing the item to be removed into the adjacent area. This process helps to prevent the direct introduction of contaminants from the outside environment or from an area with a lower cleanliness level to a cleaner area.
Applications
Pharmaceutical Industry: In pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, pass - through chambers are widely used to transfer raw materials, packaging materials, and finished products between different clean rooms, such as from the preparation area to the packaging area. They help maintain the sterility and quality of the products by preventing contamination during the transfer process.
Biotechnology and Research Laboratories: In these settings, pass - through chambers are used to transfer samples, reagents, and laboratory equipment between different zones with varying levels of cleanliness and containment. For example, when working with infectious agents or highly sensitive biological samples, the pass - through chamber provides a safe and controlled way to move materials without risking cross - contamination.
Electronics Manufacturing: In the production of semiconductors and other electronic components, pass - through chambers are employed to transfer wafers, masks, and other delicate components between different processing areas. Since these components are highly sensitive to dust and particles, the pass - through chamber helps to maintain the required clean room conditions and prevent defects caused by contamination.
Food Processing: In some high - hygiene - requirement food processing facilities, such as those producing ready - to - eat meals or infant formula, pass - through chambers are used to transfer food ingredients and packaging materials between different processing rooms. This helps to prevent the entry of foreign particles and microorganisms, ensuring the safety and quality of the food products.
