Joanna Piepiórka-Stepuk

Application of Nephelometry to Automatic Control of Cleaning Time during Cleaning Process in Clean in Place System

Abstract The article aimed at the evaluation of possible use of nephelometers to monitor changes of turbidity in cleaning solution while cleaning in flow. The results demonstrate the ability to control the duration of cleaning programs. The tests were carried out in a laboratory Clean in Place station and aimed to clean a 10-section plate heat exchanger contaminated by milk. On the basis of the data, the turbidity curves were calculated. On their basis, the kinetic of the cleaning process was revealed. Following turbidity data collection, the heat exchanger plates were also checked for remaining milk contamination. The proposed cleaning steps allow for the possibility to manipulate the cleaning program’s time, and, correspondingly, enable higher energy efficiency in the program. In comparison with the conventional cleaning program currently used in processing plants, our findings demonstrate that the proposed method to monitor turbidity reduces energy consumption by 40 % without decreasing cleanliness.