PPE & Infection Control Products worked example

Sterilization Load with autoclave and sterilizer connected load of 30 kW: a worked example in ppe & infection control products

This scenario runs the sterilization load calculation on the strong side: autoclave and sterilizer connected load of 30 kW, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when sterilization load in ppe and infection control products is being quoted and energy is a real chunk of the ppe and infection control products cost stack.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Autoclave / sterilizer connected load: 30 kW (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 12)
  • Sterilization cycle runtime: 8 hr (unchanged)
  • Blended electricity rate: 0.12 $ / kWh (unchanged)
  • PPE units sterilized during runtime: 1,000 units (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total sterilization load energy cost = sterilization load connected load × sterilization load runtime × blended electricity rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 240 kWh for sterilization load energy used, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 28.8 $ for total sterilization load energy cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.03 $ / piece for energy cost per kwh.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3.6 $ / hr for hourly sterilization load energy cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where autoclave and sterilizer connected load sits at 12 kW and the headline result is 96 kWh, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 240 kWh.
  • Use it when costing a validated sterilization cycle, comparing chamber loads, or building an energy line item into PPE unit cost. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Sterilization load energy used: 240 kWh (headline result)
  • Total sterilization load energy cost: 28.8 $
  • Energy cost per kWh: 0.03 $ / piece
  • Hourly sterilization load energy cost: 3.6 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Sterilization Load calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.