PRECISION CONTROL
FOR CIP PROCESSES
lean-in-place (CIP) has
been used for maintaining
the cleanliness of process
equipment in the
pharmaceutical and food
& beverage industries for over 50 years.
However, specifying the most appropriate
valves and sensors to control a CIP process
can make a huge difference in terms of
how effective and efficient the system is,
which in-turn has a significant impact on
operating costs.
C
Here are some of Bürkert top-ten tips for
optimising your CIP process:
1. From first principles; keeping the time
devoted to the CIP process to a minimum
reduces downtime and maintains
productivity levels. In larger installations,
it may be possible to isolate certain
production lines for cleaning, while the
others continue in operation.
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PECM Issue 32
2. The CIP process can involve a range
of chemicals that are used to clean
and disinfect the equipment. The
concentration of these chemicals is
very important in achieving an effective
cleaning cycle without wasting expensive
materials. To achieve the correct balance,
it is important to specify the most
appropriate control valves for each
application, particularly when looking at
precision dosing systems for detergent.
3. This process needs to take into account
all of the influencing factors, such as
temperature, pressure and chemical
properties. CIP processes use either
caustic or acidic detergent regimes, so
the chemical resistance properties of the
control valves within the manufacturing
process are a very important aspect of the
design.
4. The actual cleaning process itself may
be initiated and stopped manually as and
when it is required. This can lead to both
ineffective and costly processes that could
be improved with the use of automation.
Installing a series of control valves and
condition sensors that are linked to the
main process controller, can significantly
reduce the cost of CIP and improve its
effectiveness.
5. By looking at the process in more detail
it is possible to identify areas where
improvements can be made. Examining
the temperature and the conductivity
of the cleaning fluid will determine if
too much energy or too much chemical
is being used. Any reductions in energy
consumption or raw materials will have a
beneficial effect on operational costs, so
precise temperature measurement and a
fast feed-back loop are essential.
6. Further savings can be derived from
reducing water consumption in the rinse
cycles. Rather than using a time-based
process, which often uses more water
than necessary, conductivity sensors