How To Choose Sanitary Valves For Medical Equipment Production?

In the production process of medical equipment, hygiene is one of the most important factors, especially for the pipeline system of liquid and gas circulation. Whether it is delivering drugs, infusion or other medical fluids, the valves used must meet strict hygiene standards to ensure the safety and reliability of the equipment. So, how to choose sanitary valves suitable for medical equipment production? Today, let's talk about this topic to help you better understand the key points to pay attention to when purchasing sanitary valves.

 

1. What is a sanitary valve?

First of all, let's understand what "sanitary valves" actually mean. Sanitary valves are valves with high hygiene standards designed for industries such as medical, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage. They are usually made of stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant and easy-to-clean materials, which can effectively prevent bacterial growth and liquid contamination. The design requirements of sanitary valves are very strict, and it is necessary to ensure the pollution-free flow of fluids, while being resistant to special environments such as high temperature and high pressure.

 

2. Selection criteria for sanitary valves in medical equipment production

Material selection

For medical equipment production, the material of the valve is crucial. Sanitary valves are generally made of stainless steel (such as 304 or 316L stainless steel), which has good corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and is easy to clean. 316L stainless steel is more suitable for highly corrosive environments and is usually used for the delivery of drugs and medical fluids. Choosing the right material not only ensures the durability of the valve, but also prevents the material from reacting with the fluid and affecting the product quality.

 

High temperature and high pressure resistance

There are many applications in medical equipment that require high temperature and high pressure working environments, such as disinfection and sterilization processes. When choosing a sanitary valve, it is necessary to consider whether the valve can withstand these extreme conditions. The temperature and pressure resistance of the valve directly determines whether it can operate stably for a long time in the medical device.

 

Easy to clean and maintain

Since the fluids involved in medical equipment usually have very high hygiene requirements, the cleanliness of the valve is particularly important. The design of sanitary valves should try to avoid dead corners and difficult-to-clean areas, and the surface should be smooth and seamless to avoid dirt and microbial accumulation. When selecting a valve, make sure it meets CIP (cleaning in place) and SIP (sterilization in place) standards and can be easily cleaned and disinfected.

 

Sealing performance

The valves of medical equipment need to have good sealing performance to avoid liquid or gas leakage and affect the working efficiency of the equipment. Valves with poor sealing performance may cause pollution, leakage and even equipment failure. When purchasing, check the valve's sealing ring material, design and actual sealing effect to ensure its stable performance.

 

Compliance with certification requirements

The medical industry has very strict standards for products. When selecting sanitary valves, it is necessary to ensure that they meet the relevant certification standards. For example, certification requirements such as FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and EU-GMP (European Good Manufacturing Practice) can ensure that valve materials and designs meet the sanitary standards of food and drug production.

 

3. Types of sanitary valves

There are many types of sanitary valves commonly used in medical equipment production. It is very important to choose the right valve type according to different needs. Common types of sanitary valves include:

 

Ball valves

Ball valves are widely used in medical equipment due to their simple structure and good sealing performance. Ball valves are suitable for controlling the switch of fluids and are usually used in situations where frequent flow adjustment is not required.

 

Butterfly valves

Butterfly valves are suitable for large flow and low pressure environments and are often used for the delivery of drugs or liquids. Its lightness and simple design make it perform very well in some low-pressure pipelines.

 

Gate valves and stop valves

Gate valves and stop valves are usually used for more precise flow regulation and are very useful in situations where high-precision control is required. Especially stop valves, which are often used for fine-tuning of liquid or gas flow.

 

Check valves

Check valves are used to prevent fluid backflow and are common in pipeline systems that require one-way flow. In medical equipment, check valves can effectively prevent liquid or gas backflow and ensure the safety of the system.