Cleaning Steps and Procedures for Medical Oxygen Supply Pipelines
2024.11.22
In the medical field, the cleanliness of medical oxygen supply pipelines is directly related to medical safety and the health and well-being of patients. Guangzhou Kunling Purification Equipment Co., Ltd., which specializes in services related to medical gas engineering, is well aware of the importance and rigor of cleaning medical oxygen supply pipelines. The following will introduce in detail the steps and procedures for cleaning medical oxygen supply pipelines.
I. Preparations Before Construction
1. Formulating a Detailed Plan: Based on factors such as the material, length, diameter, and service life of the pipelines, a meticulous cleaning plan should be formulated. Clearly define the cleaning methods, required equipment and reagents, division of labor among personnel, and safety protection measures to ensure that the cleaning work is carried out in an orderly and efficient manner.
2. Personnel Training and Protection: Provide professional training for the staff involved in the cleaning work to make them familiar with the cleaning process, equipment operation, and safety precautions. Meanwhile, equip them with complete personal protective equipment, such as protective gloves, goggles, gas masks, etc., to prevent them from being harmed by harmful substances during the cleaning process.
3. Equipment and Reagent Preparation: Prepare appropriate cleaning equipment, such as pipeline cleaning machines and pressure pumps. Select targeted cleaning reagents according to the pollution situation of the pipelines. For example, alkaline cleaning agents can be selected for oil stains, and acid rust removers may be needed for rust. Ensure that the quality and concentration of the reagents meet the requirements.
4. Isolation and Emptying of the Pipeline System: Close the connection valves between the medical oxygen supply pipelines and the gas source, and effectively isolate the pipeline system to be cleaned from the entire oxygen supply network. Then, empty the residual oxygen in the pipelines through the emptying valve to put the pipelines in a safe, pressure-free state, creating conditions for the subsequent cleaning work.
II. Preliminary Purging
1. Connecting Purging Equipment: Connect the purging gas source, such as an air compressor or nitrogen cylinder, to one end of the pipeline, ensuring a firm and sealed connection. Set up an exhaust port at the other end of the pipeline and install a filter to prevent impurities from spreading to the surrounding environment during the purging process.
2. Setting Purging Parameters: Set reasonable purging pressure and flow rate according to the specifications and length of the pipeline. Generally, the purging pressure should not be too high to avoid damaging the pipeline, but it also needs to be sufficient to blow out the loose impurities in the pipeline. For example, for common medical oxygen supply copper pipes, the purging pressure can be controlled between 0.3 and 0.5 MPa.
3. Conducting the Purging Operation: Turn on the purging gas source to make the air flow at a high speed in the pipeline and blow out the larger particle impurities such as dust and debris in the pipeline. During the purging process, the position of the exhaust port can be gradually moved to ensure that the entire pipeline can be fully purged. The purging time usually lasts for 10 to 15 minutes until there is no obvious impurity discharged from the exhaust port.
III. Chemical Cleaning
1. Preparing the Cleaning Solution: According to the instructions of the cleaning reagent, accurately prepare an appropriate amount of the cleaning solution in the cleaning tank or cleaning can. During the preparation process, stir thoroughly to make the reagent dissolve evenly and ensure that the concentration and acidity or alkalinity of the cleaning solution meet the requirements. For example, if an alkaline cleaning agent is used to clean oil stains, the cleaning agent can be mixed with water at a ratio of 1:50 and stirred evenly.
2. Circulating Cleaning: Inject the cleaning solution into the oxygen supply pipeline to be cleaned through a pipeline cleaning machine or pressure pump, and make the cleaning solution circulate in the pipeline. During the circulation process, control the flow rate and temperature of the cleaning solution. Generally, the flow rate can be maintained at 0.5 to 1 m/s, and the temperature can be adjusted according to the characteristics of the cleaning reagent, usually between 40 and 60 °C. The circulating cleaning time depends on the degree of pollution of the pipeline, usually 2 to 4 hours, to ensure that the cleaning solution can fully contact and dissolve the dirt on the inner wall of the pipeline.
3. Soaking Cleaning (if necessary): For the parts of the pipeline with more serious pollution, soaking cleaning can be carried out after circulating cleaning. Fill the pipeline with the cleaning solution and keep it for a certain period of time to allow the dirt to have enough time to react with the cleaning solution. The soaking time is usually 30 to 60 minutes, and then carry out circulating cleaning again to thoroughly remove the dirt.
4. Neutralization Treatment: After the chemical cleaning is completed, since the cleaning solution may be corrosive to some extent, it is necessary to conduct neutralization treatment on the pipeline. Prepare an appropriate amount of neutralizer solution. For example, use an alkaline neutralizer after acid cleaning and an acidic neutralizer after alkaline cleaning. Inject the neutralizer solution into the pipeline for circulation to restore the acidity or alkalinity of the pipeline to a nearly neutral state to prevent the residual cleaning solution from corroding the pipeline. The neutralization treatment time is usually 15 to 30 minutes.
IV. Rinsing
1. Injecting Clean Water: Use a clean water pump to inject a large amount of clean water into the pipeline to rinse the pipeline and remove the residual cleaning solution, neutralizer, and dissolved dirt in the pipeline. During the rinsing process, ensure that the flow rate of clean water is large enough to enable the liquid in the pipeline to be updated quickly and improve the rinsing effect.
2. Multi-stage Rinsing (Optional): For medical oxygen supply pipelines with higher requirements, multi-stage rinsing can be adopted. That is, use clean water of different purities to rinse successively. For example, first rinse with ordinary tap water, and then use deionized water or distilled water for the second rinse to further reduce the impurity content in the pipeline.
3. Testing the Rinsing Effect: During the rinsing process, regularly take samples from the drainage port of the pipeline to test the acidity or alkalinity, electrical conductivity and other indicators of the rinsing water to judge the rinsing effect. When the various indicators of the rinsing water meet the specified standards, the rinsing can be stopped. For example, the acidity or alkalinity of the rinsing water should be close to neutral (pH value between 6.5 and 7.5), and the electrical conductivity should be lower than a certain value (such as 5 μS/cm).
V. Drying and Disinfection
1. Blowing the Pipeline Dry: Use an oil-free air compressor or nitrogen cylinder to introduce dry gas into the pipeline to blow the moisture in the pipeline dry. During the drying process, control the pressure and flow rate of the gas to avoid water accumulation in the pipeline or uneven drying caused by excessive pressure or flow rate. Meanwhile, install a humidity sensor at the exhaust port of the pipeline to monitor the humidity in the pipeline in real time. When the humidity meets the specified requirements (such as relative humidity lower than 20%), stop blowing.
2. Disinfection Treatment: To ensure the sterile state of the medical oxygen supply pipeline, disinfection treatment is required after drying. Methods such as ultraviolet disinfection, fumigation with chemical disinfectants, or injection of disinfection gases can be adopted. For example, use ultraviolet disinfection lamps to irradiate the inside of the pipeline, and the irradiation time is usually 30 to 60 minutes; or vaporize an appropriate amount of disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide and inject it into the pipeline, keep it for a certain period of time, and then use dry gas to blow out the residual disinfectant.
VI. Acceptance and Restoration of Use
1. Appearance Inspection: Conduct an appearance inspection on the cleaned medical oxygen supply pipeline to check whether the pipeline surface is clean, free of dirt and corrosion marks, and whether the pipeline connection parts are firm and well-sealed. Meanwhile, check whether the pipeline identification is clear and complete, which is convenient for future maintenance and management.
2. Internal Inspection (Optional): For some important medical oxygen supply pipelines or when there are higher requirements for the cleaning quality, an endoscope or other equipment can be used to inspect the inside of the pipeline to check whether the inner wall of the pipeline is smooth and free of residual impurities, ensuring that the cleaning effect meets the expected goals.
3. Restoring Pipeline Connection and Ventilation Testing: After passing the acceptance, reconnect the cleaned medical oxygen supply pipeline to the medical oxygen supply system, and gradually open the valves according to the operating procedures to restore the ventilation of the pipeline. During the ventilation process, closely monitor the pressure, flow rate and other parameters of the pipeline to ensure that the pipeline operates normally without leakage or other abnormal situations.
Cleaning medical oxygen supply pipelines is a delicate and crucial task. It must be carried out in strict accordance with the standardized steps and procedures to ensure the cleanliness, safety, and reliable operation of the pipelines. Guangzhou Kunling Purification Equipment Co., Ltd., with its professional technology and rich experience, can provide high-quality cleaning services for medical oxygen supply pipelines for medical institutions, contributing to the safety guarantee of the medical cause.
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