∑ Evaluationof alternativecleaning approaches or detergents.
∑ Enableoptimisedcleaningprocessto be tailoredto particular production
needs.
∑ Proactivelyhighlightpotentialprocessproblems.
∑ Identifywhether deposits are localised or distributed throughoutexchanger.
∑ Enablefoulingreduction strategiesto be assessed.
35.6 Future trends
Future commercial trends withinthe food industry will place continuing
emphasis on production flexibilityand costreduction,while requiring greater
levelsof hygiene assuranceand security. Thiswill makeprocessmonitoring
evenmorecritical in orderto enablecleaning to be optimised,whilevalidating
that the process deliversthe necessary standards required. Process lineswill be
required to producean ever-increasing rangeof products, withmorefrequent
product changeovers.Cleaningwill thereforehavean increasingimpacton plant
downtimeand reduced operationalefficiency. Concerns aboutpotentialallergen
cross-contamination will place greater emphasison cleaningperformanceand
validation. Therewill be a moveto a systems-based approachusing combina-
tions of sensingelements integratedintoa totalsystem. Thiswillrequire
improved techniquesfor interpretationof the dataobtainedfromsuchsystems.
Foulingand cleaningwillbe treated as complementaryrather thanseparate
processes so that the degreeof challengeprovidedby the fouling process can be
determined. Thiscan be usedin conjunctionwiththe productand hencethe
expected foulingcomposition together withthe cleaning standards requiredfor
the subsequentproductto automaticallydefinethe optimum cleaningprocedure.
Thedevelopment of sensors with self-diagnostic capabilities will increase
together withnon-invasive techniquesthat wouldbe particularlyrelevantfor
commissioningand troubleshootingapplications.For example,a non-invasive
flow meter for measuring cleaning flows would be valuable in allowing
measurementsto be takenat a number of differentpointsand on several lines.
35.7 Conclusions
The monitoringof fouling, cleaning and disinfectionis becoming increasingly
importantin termsof bothproductsafetyand operatingefficiency. Reliable
monitoring is essential to ensurethat the appropriate processesare being
consistentlydelivered,withoutwhichprocessvalidation and optimisationcannot
be achieved.Theuse of commonly availablesensors such as pressureand
temperature to monitorpressure dropand heat transfer coefficient can provide a
valuable indication of the condition of surfaces throughout productionand
cleaning, althoughprimarily as an indicatorratherthan an absolute measurement
of cleanliness. The most promisingapproaches to monitoringare likely to
Monitoringof fouling, cleaning and disinfection in closedprocessplant 585