Tester detects heat exchanger cracks in minutes
five minutes in heat exchangers used to pasteurise products such as
milk and juice, according to a spokesman.
Food processors need to test their heat exchangers at regular intervals as faults can develop causing problems with products that might not be detected until after release and consumption.
The three heat exchange testers being marketed by Easytest can be used to certify and calibrate liquid food processing equipment. Most other heat exchanger crack systems require plant to be out ofuse for up to eight hours, says dairy consultant John Watson, who is responsible for marketing the Easytest series of systems. They also usuallyrequire the heat exchanger to be stripped down and painted with dye or gas pressure tested.
EasyTest's Hexteq system takes five minutes and can be carried out when there is liquid under pressure in the heat exchanger. The testers, which were developed last year, use pressure andultrasonics to detect cracks and pinholes that may be present in a heat exchanger.
The company's Pasflo detector uses similar technology and can be carried out while the exchanger is still running. Pasflo measures and records the holding time, which dairy processors are requiredto check at least annually. Magnerscan also uses a similar technology. The tester uses no chemicals and can detect minute flaws in vessels.
All the systems give more accurate and graphical reports than existing manual technology, Watson said in an interview with FoodProductionDaily.com.
