Bare Tube Heat Exchanger Used in The Food Industry

Bare Tube Heat Exchanger Used in the Food Industry

Bare tube heat exchangers, also known as finless tube heat exchangers, are widely used in the food industry due to their simple structure and ease of cleaning. The food industry requires very high hygiene standards, so the design of the heat exchanger must not only take into account the heat transfer efficiency, but also the cleanability and anti-pollution ability of the equipment.

Application of Bare Tube Heat Exchanger in the Food Industry

Pasteurisation.

Dairy products, fruit juice and other liquid food: pasteurisation process, food needs to be heat treated at a specific temperature to eliminate harmful microorganisms. Light tube heat exchangers are ideally suited for the heating or cooling of such liquid foodstuffs due to their smooth inner surfaces, ensuring food safety.

CIP (Cleaning In Place) systems.

Easy to clean: Light tube heat exchangers are easier to CIP clean because of their smooth inner walls without complex structures such as fins. This is essential to prevent microbial residues and maintain food safety.

Highly resistant to contamination: The smooth surface reduces the accumulation of food residues and reduces the risk of contamination.

Food Processing Heating/Cooling.

Steam heating: bare tube heat exchangers can be used to transfer steam to food ingredients for heating during food processing, for example in the preparation of soups or sauces.

Cooling: In the cooling phase of food processing, light tube heat exchangers can be used to quickly lower the temperature of food products with cooling water or other refrigerants to maintain the quality and flavour of the food.

Pre-heating/pre-cooling of liquid foodstuffs such as milk and beer.

Efficient heat transfer: Light tube heat exchanger is suitable for the preheating or pre-cooling session of liquid foodstuffs such as milk, beer, etc. It utilises the temperature difference between the fluids for effective heat exchange so as to achieve the purpose of temperature regulation.

Reduce energy loss: Through the light tube heat exchanger, efficient energy recovery and utilisation can be achieved, reducing energy consumption in the production process.

Food hygiene and safety standards.

Compliance with hygiene requirements: light tube heat exchanger is usually made of stainless steel, which meets the hygiene standards of the food industry and ensures that food is not contaminated.

Corrosion resistance: In acidic or alkaline food processing environments, the corrosion resistance of the light tube heat exchanger allows for a longer service life without affecting the quality of the food.

Selection and Design Considerations

Material Selection.

Stainless steel: Food-grade stainless steel is the primary material for light tube heat exchangers because of its excellent corrosion resistance and ease of cleaning.

Surface Finish: Polishing or other surface treatments may be applied to further improve smoothness and corrosion resistance.

Heat Exchange Efficiency.

Design Optimisation : The design of light tube heat exchangers is often optimised to improve heat transfer efficiency while ensuring fluid flow and reducing the time the fluid is retained in the tubes.

Hygienic design.

No dead space design: Ensuring no dead space inside reduces cleaning dead space, prevents food residue and maintains high hygiene standards.

Easy to disassemble: Some of the light tube heat exchangers are designed to be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance.