2024-03-11

What are the basic requirements for compressed air for food companies?

Today, with the highly developed automation of food enterprises, compressed air has been widely used. For some special processes in the food industry, compressed air may also come into direct contact with the product. Like some special chemical areas, the air may have been polluted. If the pollutants are not separated and directly contact with food, various physical and chemical reactions such as adsorption and absorption may occur with food, which will eventually cause physical harm to consumers and bring unnecessary losses to enterprise production.

1.Correct understanding of compressed air

1. Direct contact: that is, "compressed air is used as part of the production and processing process, including the packaging and transportation of safe food", and compressed air in direct contact with the finished food or its ingredients is used as part of the production process.

For example: using air cooling and moving the finished product from one process to another, compressed air should have the same quality priority as any other ingredients.

2、Indirect contact: Compressed air discharged into the general environment of food, including its packaging, processes and production equipment or storage location of food and its ingredients.

For example: using compressed air blow moldingThe PET bottle or the bag is prepared and opened before pouring the food, similar to the valve activated by compressed air near the finished food or its ingredients.

3、non-contact: food production companies tend"Over-protection" air compression systems, so it is equally important to pay attention to non-contact low-risk systems. Most plants have a significant proportion of (over50%) Compressed air enters "factory air" applications, which will not come into contact with food or food packaging machinery at all.

2.Regulations and Standards

To ensure the realizationIt is important to follow these requirements for optimal food safety and reduced risk to consumers. International standards are helpful in this regard.

For instance,ISO 8573-1:2010 sets out the key quality requirements for compressed air and specifies the maximum values for the contaminant content and particle size that can be present in each class.

To ensure that the quality of the gas source treatment in the automation solution is up to standard and energy efficient, the proposedFor example, the following parameters are required for the quality level of the substance: solid particles, moisture content and total oil content.

（1）Compressed air in direct contact with dry food (e. g. cereals, milk powder)

Compressed air is used for conveying and mixing, usually also for food production. It comes into direct contact with food. Because these are dry foods, there are more stringent requirements in terms of air humidity.

The following isCompressed air quality classification in ISO 8573-1:2010 applicable in this case:ISO 8573-1:2010 Class1.2.1

-Solid particles: grade1

-Water: Grade2

-Oil: Grade1

（2）Compressed air in direct contact with non-dry food (e. g. beverages, meat, vegetables)

Compressed air is used for conveying and mixing, usually also for food production. It comes into direct contact with food.

The following isCompressed air quality classification in ISO 8573-1:2010 applicable in this case:ISO 8573-1:2010 Class1.4.1

-Solid particles: grade1

-Water: Grade4

-Oil: Grade1

British Retail Federation(BRC)/British Compressed Air Association(BCAS)The "Code of Practice" also provides the lowest purity and quality standards for compressed air used in the food and beverage industry.

3.Selection of compressed air system

The food industry is faced with the problem of how to choose a safe and effective compressed air system. In order to make a reasonable judgment, we must first determine the way in which enterprises use compressed air in the production system.

Regular risk assessment is also an effective means of monitoring whether there is a risk of compressed air to food safety. Manufacturers need to pay close attention to the potential risks associated with compressed air pollution in food production. After preliminary risk assessment and classification of compressed air use, it is necessary to ensure that each category and application provides the correct air quality and meets applicable air quality standards according to practice.

Manufacturers can choose from a wide range of compressed and purified air equipment to minimize the risk of food contamination. Many enterprises do not know the pollutants and pollution sources in the compressed air, so they ignore the compressed air in the hazard analysis process.

the hazards of compressed air:

Biological Hazards:1m of outside air can contain up100,000,000These microorganisms are sucked into the compressor and enter the compressed air system. If not controlled, the microorganisms will grow rapidly in the compressed air system, and the pressure dew point is higher-26C will be able to inhibit the reproduction or growth of microorganisms, up3C pressure dew point refrigeration drying equipment will not inhibit microbial growth, in order to inhibit, should be used.-40Control equipment for pressure dew point.

Chemical Hazards:Because the compressed air needs to use a lot of lubricating oil in the process, and if the oil is not controlled, it will enter the food, food additive contact surface with the compressed air, and even directly contact with the product.

Physical Hazards: There are a large number of dust particles in the air. Due to the particularity of compressed air, the dust particles are gathered in the compression process, and then the compressed air pollutes food or food additives.

Therefore, the cleanliness of compressed air is of great significance to the safety of human life in the food industry. At present, most people use oil-free air compressors, but in essence, oil-free air compressors can only ensure that there is no oil at the source and no oil lubrication, but there is no guarantee that there are no oil pollutants in the air. If we consider the way of oil removal at the back end to control oil pollutants at the gas terminal, it is more secure and safer. At present, the oil removal and purification equipment of catalytic oxidation is a relatively stable and reliable way to remove oil, which can stably provide oil-free compressed air.

 

The compressed air post-processing products provided by Concordion are as follows:

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