Single-container manufacturing of biological products

Abstract

A single-pass HVAC systems to isolate zones and to maintain a required clean air quality standard is provided that operates by producing a positive pressure in all zones, while exhausting on a minimal quantity of air required by law. The zones are kept clean by a recirculating fan filter in each zone. The exhaust air is used to exchange heat with incoming air to conserve energy further.

1 . An HVAC system for a plurality of zones comprising:
 a. At least one air-handling unit further comprising at least one air intake, at least one blower, a plurality of ducts to deliver supply air to the zones, a means of heating, a means of cooling, a means of filtering, a means of adjusting humidity and a control mechanism.   b. At least one air-exhaust unit disposed in each zone for removing the supply air from the zones further comprising at least one exhaust fan, at least one damper, an exhaust duct to carry exhaust air to an outside vent through a radiator, and a control mechanism to control the speed of exhaust flow;   c. At least one air-recirculating unit disposed in each zone further comprising at least one fan, at least one HEPA filter, a means of heating the supply air, a means of cooling the supply air, at least one return air vent, an optional damper and a control mechanism;   d. At least one heat exchanger plenum housing the radiator further comprising an inlet to draw fresh air from outside, an outlet to deliver the fresh air contacted with the radiator to the air intake of the air-handling unit, and a control mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein a minimal volume of supply air is provided to meet a local building code for fresh air replacement. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system according to  claim 2 , wherein the local building code is ASHRAE 62. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system according to  claim 2 , wherein the minimum volume of supply air is 0.12 CFM/ft 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the supply air is at least 10° F. below the lowest temperature maintained in any zone. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the supply air is about 40° F. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply air meets ISO 14644 Class 9 standard for air particulate counts. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust ducts from a plurality of zones are combined into a single exhaust duct. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one thermal sensor disposed in the zone controls the heating and cooling function of the air-recirculating unit automatically. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one air particulate counter disposed in the zone controls the speed of air-recirculation in the zone automatically. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one pressure sensor disposed in the zone controls the rate of exhaust flow to maintain a pre-determined pressure in the zone automatically. 
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outside vent is positioned to avoid mixing the exhaust air with the fresh air intake of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of zones is set to different temperatures. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the return air vent of the air recirculating unit in the zone is disposed in the ceiling of the zone. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC system according to  claim 14 , wherein the percentage of the surface of ceiling covered by the return air vent in each zone is in accordance with ISO 14644 standard for a specific ISO class of air maintained in the zone. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of zones is set to different ISO classes of air. 
     
     
         17 . A method for isolating a plurality of zones by providing the HVAC system according to  claims 1 - 16  and controlling the exhaust flow to maintain a positive pressure in the zones. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure in a plurality of zones is at least 0.05-inch water gauge. 
     
     
         19 . A method for maintaining a pre-determined ISO Class of clean air by providing the HVAC system according to  claims 1 - 16  and controlling the speed of air-recirculation within the zones to provide a pre-determined number of room air exchanges per hour. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the number of air exchanges per hour is in accordance with ISO 14644 standard.