PASTURIZATION TUNNEL
AGORA "Pasteurization Tunnels" are designed for post-bottling pasteurization of delicate beverages such as fruit juice, beer and energy drinks.
The process is carried out in 3 stages:
1. Heating phase: In this phase, the product is heated up to the pasteurization temperature according to a certain temperature-time curve.
2. Pasteurization: The product is kept at high temperature for a certain period of time depending on its properties.
3. Cooling: Pasteurized product is cooled under control and leaves the tunnel at 30÷35°C.
General features:
- Main structure, tank and water pipe connections made of AISI 304 stainless steel
- Waterproof lighting in entrance and exit sections for visual inspection
- Top covers that can be opened for cleaning and maintenance
- Process monitoring with large observation windows on both sides
- Easy to use and maintain
- Electric control panel made of stainless steel frame
Process Control :
- Large color touch screen operator panel for HMI
- General information system and process data appear on color display for HMI
- Automation and fully automatic control with PLC
- Precise temperature control in all heating zones with PT 100 active thermal sensors
- Efficient temperature control is provided in heating, pasteurization and cooling phases.
- PID control algorithms managed by the PLC system
- Digital temperature recorder with six-channel measurement input
- Pressure measurement is controlled in the water spray nozzles for pasteurization, thanks to which, the pasteurization process is carried out in the best possible way. Water spray pumps have a pressure measurement system that reports possible malfunctions.
- Electronically controlled positioning valves for steam regulation in the heat exchanger.
Water Heating and Circulation:
- Tubular heat exchangers made of stainless steel mounted at the edge of the tunnel for efficient water heating
- Filters and stainless steel pumps are used for water intake.
- The water level in the tanks is controlled by valves operated by automatic level sensors.
Operating Principle:
The bottles to be pasteurized come to the entrance of the machine through the entrance belt. By means of this continuous belt of the machine, the heating process starts at the specified belt speed and at the temperatures prescribed for the regions by entering the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sections from the heat treatment sections consisting of 8 regions.
Before entering each section, pumps and exchangers are activated so that the water temperatures reach the specified values. After reaching the determined temperature values, the process is started. The bottles to be put into operation come to the 1st Section at the approximate filling temperature. Temperature increases in Section 1. The temperature continues to increase in the 2nd and 3rd regions. Separate pumps and exchangers are adapted for each section. In the 4th region, the main heating process is carried out. Pasteurization process takes place in the 5th section. Gradual cooling processes are carried out in the 5th, 6th and 7th sections. In the last section, the water coming from the fresh water spray cools the bottles.