Syracuse, NY – March 4, 2014
Air Innovations– the leader in custom HVAC systems for cleanroom and critical environments – announced the availability of a new case study on a global supplier to the pharmaceutical tablet coating industry, for which the company created a Class I, Division I environmental control system to control the process air needed for solvent-based coating of pharmaceutical tablets.
Air Innovations configured a stainless-steel, explosion-proof HVAC system to provide once-thru air to a tablet-coating machine. The explosion proof environmental control system was designed to provide thermal stability (22°C ±2°C) and dew point control (10°C ±1°C). The electrical panel, humidifier, and compressor were encased inside the pressurized cavity of the environmental control unit (ECU) to protect against sparks, to keep out volatile gases, to remain isolated from other compartments, and to meet Class I, Division I requirements.
Additional key specifications included system airflow of 750-1000 CFM, pressurization with purge gas via a Cyclops system, 5.5-ton refrigeration capability, a 36 lb/hr. humidifier, and a 5kW re-heater.
“This project represented the first time we built a portable Class I, Division I system. The entire ECU was built on wheels with quick connections for all required utilities,” stated Michael Wetzel, CEO of Air Innovations. “Air Innovations thrives on being challenged to help a client solve a unique problem, and this project was no exception.”
The end product is now available to purchase for applications, such as pharmaceutical tablet coating, with comparable requirements and tolerances.
The full version of the case study can be found in the Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical HVAC section of this website.
About Air Innovations
Air Innovations designs and builds environmental process control systems for applications that can’t be addressed with standard HVAC equipment. The company customizes packaged solutions for: temperature (with control tolerances as precise as plus or minus 0.01°C); humidity (with control tolerances to plus or minus 0.5%); filtration (HEPA, ultra low particulate air [ULPA], and molecular); pressure; and, direct expansion, chilled water or thermoelectric capabilities.
Air Innovations works closely with its clients to tailor products that can either be integrated into their original equipment or be freestanding. Air Innovations serves a broad range of industries, including aerospace, defense, semiconductor, R&D, pharmaceutical. Some recent Air Innovations projects include designing and building air conditioning for complex structures such as the cabins for very large Ferris wheels, process control systems for pharmaceutical blister packaging machines, and a cooling system for a silicon pixel sub-detector located inside a linear accelerator at a federal laboratory.
The company also manufactures its own brands of environmental control products that are used by: fine wine collectors (Wine Guardian®); supermarket florists (Floratech®); hospitals (IsolationAir®); and, homeowners seeking purified room air (HEPAir X100®).
All Air Innovations products are designed, tested and manufactured at its 40,000 square-foot headquarters in Syracuse, NY.