FEATURE COMPRESSED AIR
WHAT IS THE QUALITY of your compressed air?
With the aim of preventing and eliminating mineral oil contamination in food products the BCAS has published a best practice guide. BEKO Technologies makes recommendations
A
s discussed extensively in the media since 2010 and published in several
of BEKO’s marketing bulletins, the food industry continues to pursue the aim of preventing and eliminating mineral oil contamination in food products. In recognition of the growing importance of this topic the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has published Best Practice Guideline 102. Produced in association with the food/ beverage industry requirements, it outlines the prerequisite programme and where applicable HACCP processes to give the users the tools they need to achieve this critical part of the manufacturing process. In our experience compressed air
contamination is generally only considered during the packaging phase of manufacturing. However, contamination of compressed air through direct or indirect contact with food poses a much greater risk and potential hazard. Compressed air is used in most food and beverage production processes, often to transport or to mix products, purge moulds, clean canisters and containers and in the direct production of food products. As a result it comes into direct contact with the end product. Compressed air can come into indirect contract with food through packaging materials such as containers, bottles, cartons which are then used to package
However, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that will contain varying levels of contamination eg through not fully combusted diesel, emissions from industrial plants is sucked up and compressed during the air generation process. As a result, even compressed air production using the oil-free method requires corresponding processing to reduce the carbon dioxide content.
the food. How is compressed air produced and how can mineral oils be transferred into foods? Oil-injected rotary screw compressors are commonly used when it comes to producing compressed air. Oil-injected means that mineral oil is used in the compression chamber to cool and seal the air-end, contaminating the compressed air with this mineral oil. After the compressor is used the
compressed air is usually filtered to reduce the level of oil contamination and other components are used to reduce the moisture content and particle levels.
OIL-FREE COMPRESSORS Oil-free compressors are often used in the food industry: no oil is directly added to the compressed air in the process.
LOW VIBRATION NANO COMPRESSOR PRODUCES CLEAN AIR
The VERT.04.W ‘nano’ compressor from Vert Rotors produces clean, oil-free air compressed to 115 psi compared to current small industry-standard rotors that struggle to produce more than 32 psi. Developed in response to global consumer
demand following successful testing to prove readiness for production, Vert’s micro compressors operate with minimal vibration and noise and use water-injection rather than machine oil, eliminating environmental threats or possibility of oil contamination. A prototype satellite cryocooling system based on Vert Rotors’ ‘nano’ design is being developed for the Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), part of UK Ministry of Defence, aiming to significantly improve the quality and resolution of infrared imaging. “The VERT.04.W is the world’s tiniest low-
vibration compressor of its kind,” says CEO Olly Dmitriev. “This ‘nano’ compressor is suitable for a variety of applications including cryocooling in small satellites, miniature medical devices and clean compressed air systems where space is at premium. “By using a conical design where the inner rotor revolves inside the outer rotor that moves at a different speed we are able to produce a powerful low-vibration compressor which operates well above industry standard for its size. “We truly believe our innovation will revolutionise
the way many applications are now developed and is ideal technology to bring us closer to enabling safer future manned space travel.”
Vert Rotors T: 0131 664 0080
www.vert.co.uk
An online measurement procedure has been developed to determine the residual oil content in compressed air down to Class 1 and below
MONITORING AT ALL CRITICAL CONTROL POINTS In view of the compressed air applications that pose a risk of contaminating foods with mineral oil BEKO Technologies recommends online measurement procedures to ensure that compressed air is monitored at all Critical Control Points whether it be contact or non-contact with food stuffs. Periodic or even sporadic sampling and subsequent laboratory analysis would only provide a snapshot of the situation at the time and not continual, uninterrupted analysis of compressed air and therefore food quality. In order to be in a position to deliver this conclusive and continual quality assurance BEKO TECHNOLOGIES has developed an online measurement procedure to determine the residual oil content in compressed air down to Class 1 and below. Given the standard of quality required here the measurement system was certified by TÜV Nord in accordance with the ISO 8573-1 standard and validated by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). In the past we have developed
tailormade solution concepts for the food and pharmaceuticals industry and implemented these in partnership with the relevant industry. We were able to exceed the minimum statutory thresholds for mineral oils in compressed air in all of these cases. BEKO Technologies can offer ISO tests
to measure the quality of your air without you having to purchase all the instruments necessary.
BEKO Technologies T: 01527 575778
www.beko-technologies.co.uk
22 NOVEMBER 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
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