Freezing: Producing Higher Output Is Critical
Manufacturers have introduced several innovations last year, and 2022 seems to be another prolific year in terms of new, more efficient equipment. The main goals remain output, safety, and cost reduction, but how important a part each of these will play remains to be seen.
Variations in production capacity, the characteristics of different types of goods going through production, the facility’s footprint, the process in the manufacturing sequence, the ambient temperature and machinery placement: these are some of the factors that will play a role in determining what cooling technology works best, when, where, and how.
Emerging technologies and customer expectations for safe, hygienic solutions in food production have consistently pushed FPS Food Process Solutions to go over and beyond. FPS’ recirculating Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems with pasteurization mitigate the risk of contamination before packaging. Furthermore, the company’s Spiral Immersion SystemTM (SISTM) can cook, chill, and freeze products within sealed vacuum bags to ensure no exposure to the environment throughout the processing cycle. FPS explores innovative technologies to meet customer needs, and among these innovations are the first of its kind, 1.8m Spiral Freezer and the Spiral Immersion SystemTM (SISTM). In collaboration with Intralox, FPS developed the 1.8m wide belt spiral freezer to match larger processing lines. For food processors, this is a critical factor in being able to produce higher output. The SISTM was developed to not only produce better quality food products but could also save on cost, time, and energy. Additionally, FPS uses mechanical freezing, which is a system where the air is passed through a tube and fin evaporator inside the equipment. Refrigerants such as ammonia, freon, or CO2 can be used depending on customer preference, explains Greg Sheridan, sales manager, FPS.
“We especially circuit each evaporator to the required refrigeration load to maximize efficiency. Various methods of feeding the refrigerant are utilized depending on application and temperature requirements as well as overall refrigeration plant design. We can use recirculated systems in the bottom or top-fed liquid, flooded systems, and direct expansion. We discuss the various options with our customer and refrigeration contractor to ensure they know the operational requirements and efficiency of each system.”
When it comes to improving performance and efficiency, the ability to condition the product appropriately in the most efficient process is the company’s goal. “We look at each application to determine which type of freezing equipment is right for the job. All of our equipment is designed to provide even airflow at optimum velocity across all product zones. This ensures we remove heat consistently for all belt widths and freezer sizes, to give consistent output and quality. We design the equipment to minimize airflow restriction through product zones, internal structure, and through the coil and fan assemblies. Using external motors, plug fans, eliminating coil defrost louvers, and using square tube patterns in our coils all contribute to substantial reductions in energy. Reducing restrictions while ensuring airflow across all product zones power consumption. Freezing faster reduces yield loss improving product quality and improves throughput. Reduced freezer power consumption reduces energy costs and reduces the refrigeration power which offers further energy savings.” Each freezer is custom engineered and built to specific customer site requirements. This allows FPS to tailor the delivery to facilitate the installation appropriate to each site and to match up with existing equipment.
You can read the rest of this article in the Spring Issue of Asia Pacific Baker & Biscuit magazine, which you can access by clicking here.