PI in food industry

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1. DEFINITION & OBJECTIVE


PI represents the need of energy savings, CO2 reduction and cost competitiveness through the process industry.


2. FIELD OF APPLICATION


The field of application is various. In food industry two significant sectors have a high potential:

  • Food ingredients (INFOOD)
  • Consumer foods (CONFOOD)


3. DESCRIPTION OF TECHNIQUES, METHODS AND EQUIPMENT


Two Examples are given to demonstrate the benefits of using PI technologies:


INFOOD


Traditional technology

A Continuous burner based dryer is often used in textile, chemical or food industry. It is a type of direct-heated dryer where the drying gas which consists of fresh air, recycled air and combustion gas is in direct contact with the material to be dry.


PI technology

Pulse combustion drying is an alternative. Fuel is combusted periodically and causes high pressure, velocity and under certain conditions temperature waves which transmit from the combustion to the drying chamber. Because of its oscillatory nature, rates of heat and mass transfer increase. The technology can be easily incorporated in still existing driers.


Benefits


  • Improved powder quality
  • Reduced energy consumption by 17- 36 %
  • Increased dryer throughput


CONFOOD


Traditional technology

Standardized long cleaning cycles with downtime though food production while cleaning and fouling the equipment.


PI technology

Refers to intelligent cleaning with sensors in line which measure production and cleaning efficiency and self learning computers.


Benefits

  • Increased capacity: downtime of food processing equipment is reduced more than 50 %.
  • Decreased use of water and cleaning agents
  • Increased flexibility: cleaning conditions automatically adjusted to new food compositions


Reference: Action plan Process Intensification; empowered by Ministry of Economic Affairs


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