Three circuit fill system for blow fill seal containers
View Patent ↗A system for filling a blow-fill-seal (BFS) container is provided. The system includes a first fluid circuit constructed to selectively deliver a purge fluid to an open BFS container. A second fluid circuit selectively delivers a product to the open BFS container. A third fluid circuit, having a vent line in fluid communication with the open BFS container and to the ambient, directs a bulk fluid comprising at least the purge fluid from the container when the purge fluid is introduced into the BFS container. The second circuit selectively delivers product when the first fluid circuit selectively does not deliver the purge fluid, and the second circuit selectively does not deliver product when the first circuit selectively delivers the purge fluid.
1. A system for filling a blow-fill-seal (BFS) container comprising:
a first fluid circuit constructed to selectively deliver a purge fluid to an open BFS container;
a second fluid circuit constructed to selectively deliver a product to the open BFS container;
a third fluid circuit having a vent line in fluid communication with the open BFS container and to ambient,
a second connection section constructed to couple the second fluid circuit to a product supply,
a third connection section constructed to couple the third fluid circuit to a ventilation port, and
a first connection section through which the second fluid circuit extends axially coupled between the second connection section and the third connection section,
wherein the third fluid circuit is constructed to direct a bulk fluid comprising at least the purge fluid from the BFS container when the purge fluid is introduced into the BFS container, and
wherein the second circuit selectively delivers product when the first fluid circuit selectively does not deliver the purge fluid and wherein the second circuit selectively does not deliver product when the first circuit selectively delivers the purge fluid.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first circuit delivers purge fluid to the open BFS container based upon cleanliness of the bulk fluid.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the first fluid circuit delivers purge fluid to the open BFS container when the cleanliness of the bulk fluid does not meet a predetermined cleanliness level.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the first fluid circuit does not deliver purge fluid to the open BFS container when the cleanliness of the bulk fluid meets or exceeds the predetermined cleanliness level.
5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring device in fluid communication with the vent line, the monitoring device constructed to receive at least a portion of the bulk fluid and monitor the bulk fluid vented from the third fluid circuit.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the monitoring device includes a particle size detector that detects a size of particles in the bulk fluid monitored by the monitoring device.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the monitoring device determines the size of particles in the bulk flow, and the first circuit delivers purge fluid to the open BFS container based upon the particle size determined by the monitoring device.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the first fluid circuit delivers purge fluid to the open BFS container when the detected particle size is greater than a predetermined size.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the first fluid circuit does not deliver purge fluid to the open BFS container when the detected particle size is equal to or less than the predetermined size.
10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the predetermined size is 0.2 micron.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluid circuit delivers a flow of the purge fluid to the open BFS container for a predetermined duration.
12. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the predetermined duration of the flow of the purge fluid is based upon the cleanliness of bulk fluid.
13. A method for filling a blow-fill-seal (BFS) container comprising:
selectively delivering a purge fluid to an open BFS container through a first fluid circuit;
selectively delivering a product to the open BFS container through a second fluid circuit, which extends axially through a first connection section;
directing a bulk fluid through a third fluid circuit; and
wherein the second fluid circuit is coupled to a product supply via a second connection section,
wherein the third fluid circuit is coupled to a ventilation port via a third connection section,
wherein the first connection section is coupled between the second connection section and the third connection section,
wherein the bulk fluid comprises at least the purge fluid when the purge fluid is introduced into the BFS container,
wherein the third fluid circuit has a vent passageway in fluid communication with the BFS container and ambient,
wherein the product is selectively delivered to the BFS container through the second circuit when the purge fluid is selectively not delivered through the first fluid circuit and
wherein the liquid product is selectively not delivered through the second circuit when the purge fluid is selectively delivered through the first circuit.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the purge fluid is delivered to the open BFS container based upon cleanliness of the bulk fluid.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the purge fluid is delivered to the open BFS container when the cleanliness of the bulk fluid is at least below a predetermined cleanliness level.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the purge fluid is not delivered to the open BFS container when the cleanliness of the bulk fluid meets or exceeds the predetermined cleanliness level.
17. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising monitoring the bulk fluid vented from the third fluid circuit.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the monitoring includes detecting a size of particles in the bulk flow.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the purge fluid is delivered into the open BFS container based upon the size of particles detected in the bulk flow.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the purge fluid is delivered to the open BFS container when the detected particle size is greater than a predetermined size.
21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the purge fluid is not delivered to the open BFS container when the detected particle size is equal to or less than the predetermined size.
22. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the predetermined size is 0.2 micron.
23. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the purge fluid is delivered to the BFS container for a predetermined duration.
24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the predetermined duration of the flow of the purge fluid is based upon cleanliness of the bulk fluid.