Description

Aseptic tanks designed and manufactured to store liquids and viscous products, including dairy products, prior to aseptic filling. SteriTank aseptic tanks consist of stainless steel vessels with product inlet at the top or the bottom, depending on the products involved. They are designed to meet the most stringent hygienic requirements for the food and beverage industries and are fully compatible with cleaning-in-place (CIP) procedures. The tanks have semi-spherical upper parts and a semi-spherical or conical bottom, and are designed and tested to perform at a maximum pressure of 4 bar (58 PSI) and under absolute vacuum. This means they can work safely even under difficult processing conditions. SteriTank aseptic tanks are available with different diameters and heights in order to fit into the space available, and can be customized to meet customers’ specific needs. SteriTank units can also be fitted with different mixing equipment best suited to the particular food and beverage applications. A horizontal design is also available, and this is ideal for products that contain particulates, such as in the production of prepared foods. How it works Prior to production start the aseptic tank is sterilized with steam and then cooled. Tanks with capacities of under 3000 litres (793 gallons) are cooled by injecting sterile air or nitrogen, which is also suitable for preventing air suction, due to the vacuum effect. SteriTanks with capacities of over 3000 litres (793 gallons) are refrigerated by circulating chilled water through the tank’s coil. During the cooling operation, the tank is kept under a slight pressure. The air is kept sterile by a set of filters, and the pressure is monitored and controlled automatically. A set of sterile pneumatic valves for product inlet and product outlet are included in the SteriTank system. These valves are protected by a steam barrier at a controlled temperature/pressure to prevent cross-contamination. The units are managed by a PLC with a live digital feed that displays the different operating steps (CIP, SIP, Production) in different colors. It also shows the position of the valves and the critical factors such as temperatures, etc. and shows the volume of product inside the tank. As an optional feature, the processing data can be captured and stored via software and the mimic panel can be supplied with a color digital feed. ''