Linear Accelerators
Mevex Equipment manufactures linear accelerators (linacs) for E-beam and X-ray sterilization of single use medical devices, pharmaceuticals, industrial, and consumer products. Other applications that utilize E-beam and X-ray technologies include food irradiation, gemstone coloration, and crosslinking of polymers.
What types of linac configurations are available?
| Linac configurations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-ray Phytosanitary Treatment of Food | X-ray Sterilization of Medical Devices | E-beam Sterilization of Thin Product Packaging | E-beam Sterilization of Medical Devices | E-beam Coloration of Gemstones | E-beam Production of Radioisotopes | |
| Energy Range | 5 and 7 MeV | 7.5 MeV | 4 – 6 MeV | 10 – 11 MeV | 20 MeV | 30 – 45 MeV |
| Power Range | Up to 75 kW (10.7 mA) | Up to 75 kW (10 mA) | Up to 65 kW (10.8 mA) | Up to 70kW (6.4 mA) | Up to 65 kW (3.2 mA) | Up to 125 kW (2.8 mA) |
Measured in million electron volts (MeV), the energy of the electron beam produced by a linac determines the product penetration ability for an E-beam or X-ray process. The electron beam energy requirement varies with product applications and packaging.
For specialized applications, Mevex offers linacs with energies as low as 3 MeV and as high as 45 MeV.
What are the key features of a Mevex Equipment linac configuration?
Capacity on demand
Mevex can design shields with the flexibility to install additional linacs in the future, allowing the capacity of the sterilization facility to be increased if needed. This enables starting a processing line with a single linac and adding a second accelerator to increase capacity or introduce redundancy when needed.
Handling of fragile products
Some fragile products, like petri dishes, may be damaged with excessive handling, such as box flipping. For those fragile products, different system configurations are available, such as a horizontal beam configuration with a box rotator or an opposing linac configuration without the need to rotate product.
Dual technology for optimal product sterilization
Linacs can be delivered with dual-modality capabilities, providing both electron beam and X-ray within the same processing line.
Utilizing a retractable X-ray target, this dual-modality design provides flexibility in processing and allows the irradiation parameters to be tailored for each unique product batch. For example, a 10 MeV E-beam batch of product can follow a 7.5 MeV X-ray batch of product on the same processing line.
Compact design
Linacs are available in various sizes, with some weighing only 500 kg. The smaller footprint and weight allows for easier installation and reduced shielding.
Range of beam power
Low and high-power configurations allow the system capacity to be adapted to match the production requirements.
Adjustable energy
The beam energy of a Mevex Equipment linac can be adjusted to optimize dose delivery in the product.
Reduced energy consumption
Energy savings can be achieved by activating stand-by mode, resulting in reduced system power consumption. Stand-by mode allows the linac to run at 10% of the maximum power and consume power at about 20% of the power consumption at full power.
Why choose a linac from Mevex Equipment?
Mevex Equipment linacs offer comprehensive flexibility in terms of energy span, power, and treatment modality. The linac control system allows the individualization of irradiation parameters on a product-by-product basis. The combination of Mevex Equipment and Konnexis Technologies results in an offering that is tailored to meet each Customer’s unique requirements.
Please visit our AST resources page for more information on sterilization technology and applications.