Essentially, the perfect Clean-In-Place (CIP) system should not only maintain consistent cleanliness but also optimise resource usage, encompassing water, energy, cleaning chemicals, and time. To achieve this, a range of cutting-edge technologies will be necessary.
Fundamentally, comprehending the fluid flowing through the pipes at any given point is crucial for operators to determine the presence of products or cleaning chemicals within the pipeline. This knowledge enables them to progress to the next stage of the CIP process, avoiding the wastage of valuable resources. However, the existing state-of-the-art sensors used in CIP pose accuracy challenges, as highlighted in our previous blog (LINK). These challenges mainly stem from the need for turbulent flow, which serves as a mechanical stimulus for the cleaning process. Unfortunately, this turbulence also results in an increase in the volume fraction of entrained air, further complicating the sensing process. Hence, the perfect CIP sensing technology should effectively address the issue of entrained air and provide reliable measurements.
Within every Food and Beverage (F&B) factory, a diverse array of processing equipment exists, each possessing unique specifications. However, when it comes to CIP, all equipment is often treated uniformly with rudimentary time-based solutions. The ideal CIP system would possess the ability to adapt to various equipment types and account for process-related variables such as the specific product being cleaned, the time elapsed since the last cleaning, and even temperature considerations. In essence, the perfect CIP system should exhibit a dynamic nature, ensuring that unnecessary process waste is always minimised or eliminated altogether.
In CIP systems, high-resolution sensing plays a crucial role in water recycling by determining acceptable levels of contaminants. By employing advanced sensing technologies, CIP systems can accurately monitor and maintain water quality, ensuring that recycled water meets the required purity standards. This promotes efficient resource management and contributes to a more sustainable approach to industrial cleaning processes.
CIP systems present a complex landscape, encompassing a diverse array of different control systems and control philosophies and intricate mechanical specifications, making integration a challenge. Consequently, any technology aiming to be implemented must possess the inherent capability to stand alone as a robust solution, seamlessly integrating into the wide range of COTS (Commercial-off-the-shelf) SCADA systems. This imperative requirement ensures successful adoption and compatibility, enabling efficient and effective CIP operations across diverse industrial environments.