CIP or clean in place technology is nothing new. In fact, it is has been around for several decades in the beverage, food, and pharmaceutical industries. This technology makes it possible to clean machinery without the need for taking it apart. CIP greatly shortens the process of cleaning and can increase efficiency by limiting downtime. Let’s take a closer look at the process and the important role it plays today.
Where is Clean in Place Used?
CIP technology is often utilized in industries where cleanliness and sanitation are very important. With food and beverage products, equipment and machinery can receive buildup of fats and other items which may eventually lead to bacterial growth. CIP is designed to break down these materials and flush them from the system.
How is CIP Done?
Clean in place utilizes special chemicals and temperatures between 120 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit (50-75C). Many times, chemicals with an acidic or strong alkaline content are used to break down materials known to soil or buildup inside machinery. Higher temperatures work to kill bacteria, mold, and other types of contaminants which may grow.
It is very important to use the right chemicals for the application. Otherwise you run the risk of damaging sensitive equipment. In addition, certain chemicals work best for cleaning while others may be needed for removing difficult things like milk scaling in dairy processing equipment.
Common Chemicals
Here are some of the more common chemicals you will find in many CIP operations today:
* Nitric acid – sometimes used with phosphoric acids for their strong detergent action. Cleaning can be accomplished with less heat than caustic soda.
* Sodium hypochlorite – its active ingredient is chlorine bleach and it’s often used as a cost effective disinfectant agent.
* Peracetic acid – commonly called PAA. It is used as a potent oxidant and disinfectant for removing yeast and bacteria.
Advances in Clean in Place Technology
Thanks to modern technology, CIP applications can be greatly improved. For example, by using on demand CIP, modern businesses will receive a number of benefits, such as:
* Faster changeover and cleaning times than conventional CIP methods
* Increased CIP efficiency
* Energy efficient
* Saves on materials
* Can sometimes cut operating costs by more than half
How Does On Demand CIP Work?
Using processing control technology blended with the proper chemicals, your equipment can receive maximum cleaning in the shortest possible time. Flow rates and target temperatures are automatically monitored and you can even receive a report on the operation. This allows modern businesses to save time, money, energy, and water, with the clean in place process.
If you would like to learn more about advanced clean in place technology like on demand CIP, come to TechniBlend. We offer cost effective cleaning and blending solutions to the food & beverage, liquid and chemical processing, and consumer products industries. Visit us online now at http://www.techniblend.com/ for more details.
