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Clean Steam – The Basics

Presenters: -Marie LaFrance,-George Godfrey,

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Clean Steam – The Basics

Objectives:

• What is Currently Driving Clean Steam Initiatives in Healthcare

• How Water Quality Effects the Steam Generation Process

• Define the Different Types of Generated Steam Available

• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of Clean Steam

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What’s In it for Me?

• Provides you the basic Knowledge related to the clean steam story

• Prepares you for additional training at the upcoming Sales Meeting in Tampa, Fl.

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Healthcare and the Need for Clean Steam

• Traditionally used in Life Science and Pharmaceutical application

• Newer Technology to Healthcare, but not for Life Sciences

• Europe has adopted standards specific to clean steam– EN 285– HTM 2031

• International Standards– ISO 17655

• Competitors has been an advocate for Clean Steam in Healthcare sterilizers

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Establishing Water Quality

• Waters basic structure is H20 – But additional elements may exist

– Metals (K, Al, Cu, Na, Fe, Zn)

– pH Factors (Carbonate, Hydroxide, Bicarbonate)

– Hardness (Calcium and Magnesium)

• If not monitored or treated properly can have a direct impact on the steam process

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Establishing Water Quality

• Potable water quality is highly variable across the country, even in locations that are in close proximity

• STERIS TSSR water analysis program can assist in determining Customer’s water quality issues

• As it relates to the water used in generating steam, the Customer has options.

• Those options are directly aligned with the type of steam the hospital chooses to produce

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Water Quality - Steam Generation

• Water used in steam production is known as “Feed Water”

• The type and quality of the feed water used is determine by the type of steam the Customer requires.

Water Softener System Water Softener System

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Softened Water

• Controls water hardness with earth alkaline metals Ca, Mg, content in the feed water

• Hardness in a water supply can result in “scale formation,” which is a deposit of minerals left after evaporation

• The softener contains the treated ion exchange resin - small beads of polystyrene

– Exchange removes Ca and Mg from water

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DI and RO – Purified Water

Deionized (DI) Water

-Physical process using ion exchange resin

-Traps specifically charged ions such as:

-Na, Ca, Fe, Cu, Cl, Chloride and Bromide

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

-Liquid Filtrations method

-Water forced through membrane at high pressure

-Pore size of membrane limits specific elements from passing

DI System with Water Softener

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Application to Healthcare Steam Sterilization Types

• Softened water can be used in both plant steam and clean steam applications

• RO or DI water can be used in clean steam applications, but piping and components must be stainless steel due to the corrosive nature of the treatment

• Let’s take a look at each of the steam methods offered in greater detail

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So what is steam?

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Steam is just steam…right??

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Types of Steam

Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

Life Sciences, Hospitals,

Food and Beverage

Hospitals / Food and Beverage

Hospitals, Laundries,

Food and Beverage,

Pulp and Paper

Petrochemicals

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• Most common grade of steam used in U.S. healthcare

• Sometimes referred to as “House” steam

• Can be used for multiple applications including sterilization, laundry and heating.

• Can use softened feed water to decrease water hardness

• Boiler water is chemically treated to control pH levels

Plant Steam

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What does the Plant Steam System Look Like?

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BoilerBoiler

WaterTreatment System

SterilizerSterilizer

traptrap traptraptraptrap

PressureRegulator

Tee fitting Incoming City Water

Typical Plant Steam System

Chemical Boiler Treatment

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• Must be clean dry and free of boiler carryover

• “Dirty” or wet steam may effect plant steam performance and increase maintenance costs

• What are the effects of dirty steam?

Plant Steam

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Steam Quality

Effects of Generating Poor quality steam includes:

• Scale

• Rust

• Spotting/Staining

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Poor Steam Quality - Scale

Scale in Chamber

• Poor quality steam

• Boiler water carryover

• Inadequate boiler treatment

• If steam is from a steam generator then the proper water quality is not being used

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Poor Steam Quality - Scale

Scale in Boilers

• Insufficient boiler treatment– Scale buildup

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Poor Steam Quality - ScaleDeposits/Corrosion in Autoclave

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Poor Steam Quality – Rust

Boiler Lines

• Carryover from steam

• Insufficient boiler treatment

• Poor quality steam– Insufficient use of

neutralizing amines

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Wrapped Goods – Spotting/Staining

• Laundry residues• Boiler carryover

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Why bother with steam issues?

• Spotting, staining and corrosion

can interfere with sterilizer operation

• Competitors are pushing the use of clean steam

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What Other Types of Steam are Available?

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Clean Steam• Can be generated from

potable, softened, RO or DI water

• Free of boiler additives

• Most cases use a small steam generator dedicated to boiler

• All pipes and process components are copper/brass?

• If RO/DI feed water used plumbing must be stainless due to corrosive properties of treatment

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Clean Steam Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages:

• Preservation of instruments, less staining and pitting

• Leaves fewer deposits on sterilizer walls

Disadvantages

• High cost to produce• Corrosive – requires stainless

piping for sterilizer

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Summary/Conclusion

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FAQ’s