FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Simplify food & beverage pneumatics selection with these 7 tips
Pneumatic component selection in the food and beverage industry requires special care and consideration. Strict quality and hygiene standards must be followed, and the environments in which equipment operates can vary widely, writes Giles Wilcox.
each have their own regulations. Standards
minimise machine downtime and wasted
related to hygiene are strictest in the food
energy. From leak detection to pressure and
zone where food product directly contacts
consumption monitoring, smart pneumatics
machinery. In the splash zone, food product
solutions can be seamlessly integrated into
may come into contact with parts of
systems. Edge computing solution, like
equipment but is cleaned off and doesn’t
Emerson’s RXi2-LP Edge Computing Device,
move into the handling process. In the
provides real-time operations control that
non-food zone, food product doesn’t touch
delivers key insights into equipment and
machinery or components.
systems that help end users increase uptime and overall efficiency.
3. Understand hygienic requirements According to regulations, food and beverage
7. Talk to pneumatics experts
equipment must be designed and built
Working with a proven pneumatics supplier
achine designers are expected to
to avoid any contamination risk. It’s also
in the food and beverage industry makes the
commission pneumatic systems with
essential that it’s built to withstand the rigors
design process quicker and easier. An expert
excellent compressed air quality and
of industry demands. To make them durable
supplier will have a complete pneumatics
hygienic designs quickly and efficiently. Here
and easy to clean, pneumatic components
portfolio, often with preassembled actuator
are seven tips that make pneumatic selection
must be made of corrosion-resistant, non-
control systems, freeing engineering
faster and easier.
toxic, non-absorbent materials.
resources and streamlining procurement. For
1. Ensure pneumatic system efficiency
4. Consider compliance requirements
can provide resources for the design and
When precisely designed, pneumatic systems
National and international regulations shape
implementation of pneumatic positioning
save a significant amount of energy. To
the way equipment used to produce food
systems that use IIoT and advanced feedback
properly size actuators, it’s important to
and beverage products is designed. These
control, like the Aventics Series AES fieldbus
consider the required force, pressure and
regulations vary from region to region, so
module. These systems can be easily
mechanical limitations of an application. Find
it’s important to know which apply in your
designed to monitor the correct position of
appropriate components in a few clicks and
manufacturing location as well as where the
a cylinder and load while transferring critical
save engineering time by using online sizing
machine will be used. Compliance has extra
machine data to a PLC for analytics and
software and cylinder configuration tools.
advantages too. It often extends equipment
predictive maintenance. •
When the appropriate pneumatic valve is fit
service life and reduces maintenance.
M
instance, Emerson’s pneumatic specialists
near an actuator, it provides just the right flow requirements needed for the cylinder to
5. Recognise operational demands
move the load and can reduce cycle times by
From high-pressure cleaning to chemical
improving overall machine performance.
agents, food and beverage washdown
In addition, mechanical or electro-
processes can be harsh. It’s important to
pneumatic pressure regulators ensure that
know where components will be located
processes only use the energy they need by
and which processes, they’ll be subject to.
giving users precise pressure control, and
Pneumatic components should be built to
some even offer customised pressure control.
endure frequent cleaning, like Emerson’s
Integrating vacuum sensors into machines
Aventics Clean Line Air Valves Series CL03.
with vacuum components can save energy,
With an ingress protection rating of 1P-69K,
too, since sensors automatically switch
these valves are robust enough to not require
pressure on and off when vacuum levels
a protective cabinet in washdown areas.
About the author: Giles Wilcox is the subSahara African Manager, fluid control and pneumatics at Emerson
have been met. 6. Incorporate smart pneumatics 2. Know the food zones
The diagnostic and preventive maintenance
There are three zones typically recognised
data that smart pneumatic solutions provide
in the food and beverage industry, and
can help anticipate wear and significantly,
22
MARCH 2021 | FOOD REVIEW
Emerson – www.emerson.com
