The Importance of Industrial Process Heating in the Food Industry

Last updated on June 4th, 2018 at 03:30 pm

The food industry is of extreme importance to our population, and its significance has made many businesses billions of dollars. With the rising population, and an increase in demand, large businesses have started investing more in increasing food safety. Industrial food companies produce a wide variety of products on a daily basis, some of which are liquid based. Those liquid based products must be stored and heated at a particular temperature to ensure quality and safety.

03-_Oil_Food_preview_keyframes_03One way the food industry maintains quality and safety is with the help of industrial process heating. Flange heating is one of the most popular methods of maintaining accurate temperature control throughout production.

Contamination is a big problem. The sterilization process for liquid based products, for example cooking oil, has since developed over the years. With the help of flange heating, food industry professionals are fighting the ongoing battle with microorganisms that destroy products.

The use of hot water, at an appropriate temperature, is the first line of defense when it comes to eliminating microorganisms. However, if the hot water is not kept at the right temperature the food can become dangerous. 

 

Using Technologies of Today

Fuel-based heaters pose a threat to food quality, the environment and the financial effectiveness the industry. However, the new batch of electric heaters has refined the industry and allowed them to make higher quality products. The two most prominent heating methods used in the food industry are flange heating and screw plug heating. Both of which run on electricity. Perhaps their best quality is the ability to provide uniform heating across all products. Another outstanding benefit of flange heating and screw plug heating is the ability to transfer heat in and out of sealed containers. This helps keep dangerous microorganisms away from food products.  

 

Using Heaters to Achieve Perfection

Circulation-heaterMilk and juice products must go through a pasteurizing process where they are heated to a particular temperature to guarantee the destruction of germs. Foods that need to be preserved or transported also need storage facilities. These facilities are heated to a specific temperature, ranging from 110-121 degrees Celsius. Flange heating, among other methods, is used in a number of different ways. A list of applications are mentioned below:

  • Heat flow systems
  • Boiler equipment
  • Preheating or intense heating of varying grades of cooking oil
  • Freeze protection for liquid and gaseous mediums
  • Rising and cleaning systems

 

Commercial Food Equipment

Here is a list of equipment used in contention with industrial process heating. They are all dependable, consistent and capable of maintaining quality. Buying products from reputable companies will enable you meet the strict food industry standards.    

  1. Dish Washer Heaters

  The food industry expands far beyond the reach of manufacturers. Most food products are sold and served in restaurants. With the bulk of the business being conducted outside of the manufacturer, restaurants and food chains have begun using top of the line dishwashers to keep up with safety standards.

An effective dishwasher uses warm water to eliminate germs and stains. Immersion heaters, much like a flange heater, are used to control the heat of the water. They are also built with a number of temperature control options that can be adjusted for different uses.  

  1.    Thick Film Heaters

Being small and compact in size, thick film heaters are perfect for pasteurizing milk and juice products. They are able to maintain and manage the appropriate heat needed during the pasteurizing process. Here are the advantages of using a thick film heater:

  • Fast thermal response
  • Quick heat transfer
  • Durable and easily maintainable

 

  1.  Defrost Heaters

Freezing products is one of the most common methods used for food storage and preservation. Industry giants use this method to increase product life considerably. The problem with freezing products is that when defrosted they may not be as fresh as they once were. With the ability to defrost products and revitalize freshness, defrost heaters have become a staple in the food industry.

Defrost heaters are not your average heater; instead they are custom-built industrial process heaters. Typically, they will have a cut to length, self-regulating cable with a unique polymer sheathed, as well as various tubular elements. Here is a list of the ideal applications for defrost heaters:

  • Freezer door gaskets
  • Defrost applications
  • Drain line freeze protection

 

Custom Controller Immersion Heaters

With water’s significant importance in the food industry, immersion heaters are able to help control food quality and safety. They’re used for cleaning, sterilizing and production. A custom industrial controller manages the functionality of the heaters. Each control is equipped with a sensor that judges the temperature; the sensor can also activate or deactivate the heater according to the temperature.  

 

Factors that Influence the Choice of Heaters

When choosing an industrial process heater it is important to understand what you are looking for, and how you are going to apply it. Here is a list of the most important factors to consider:

  • Look at the medium, an extremely contaminated medium will impact performance
  • Maximum heat resistance of sheath material should be ensured (for example copper)
  • Amount of impurities and the different types of mediums
  • Sheath corrosion, humidity and dust resistance properties
  • Type of the liquid or product to be heated: Density, Viscosity
  • Reactive properties of the heated medium

Food industry professionals continue to innovate and research better methods of production. Industrial process heating applications have helped satisfy the growing population by providing them with the comfort of knowing they’re consuming high quality products that are safe.

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