Sanitary Steam Heaters are used in the Food and Beverage industry.  It is the most efficient solution for effective and uniform heating of liquids and slurries.  Here is a guide to understanding everything about sanitary steam heaters and their applications.

How Do Sanitary Steam Heaters Work?

Sanitary steam heaters work on the direct steam injection system to instantly heat any liquid or an aqueous slurry on a straight-through continuous basis.  The pick system first introduces steam to the liquid by way of an injection tube which then leads to the liquid instantly absorbing steam and full transfer of heat.

The heater has a spring-loaded piston to regulate the steam flow and prevents the equalization of pressure between the steam and water to eliminate a steam hammer.  The chamber’s helical flights enhance thorough mixing before discharging.

The spring-loaded piston and steam injection tube are the main components of a sanitary steam heater and have three principal functions.

• It breaks the stream into smaller streams
• The piston closes during shutdown to prevent a sudden steam collapse within the tube
• Responding to changes in steam demand, the piston modulates to maintain a steady differential between the water pressure and steam.

Sanitary Steam Heaters Applications

• Heating
• Cooking
• Sterilization
• Pasteurization

Processing Product

• Starches
• Slurries
• Dairy Products
• Mayonnaise
• Stew
• Pastries
• Sauces & Gravies
• Soups
• Purees
• Baby Food
• Puddings
• Juices
• Vinegar
• Water

Benefits of Sanitary Steam Heaters

Surprisingly, there are many benefits that sanitary steam heaters provide.

• Energy Efficiency – The design is to significantly cut fuel costs up to 28% as the liquid absorbs the steam energy.
• Temperature Control – Accurate, precise and uniform temperature control is maintained while assuring product quality and conserving energy.
• Less Noise – It is a much quieter unit than before, with a vibration-free operation.
• Operating Range – Its turndown ratio is 12:1 with a single-control valve. This is much better than the ratio of 100:1 that comes with multiple valves for steam control.
• Compact Design – The current generation is designed in a manner to take up the least possible space as compared to traditional heat exchangers.
• Mixing – Excellent mixing results while heating.
• Assembly – Rapid assembly and disassembly – sanitary clamps only.

Leading the Way

Komax Systems a leader in static mixing, steam heaters, desuperheaters, and heat exchangers has created a sanitary inline steam heater.  In the Food and Beverage industry, specifically there are high cleanliness standards that must be met.  There are many appliances that cannot be used because of the risks of contamination. The sanitary inline steam heater is made of stainless steel and specifically designed for clean in place (CIP) process.  There are no moving parts and no small orifices thus eliminating maintenance and plugging problems.  For this reason, there is no risk of small parts mixing with the food products.

The sizing and end connections are available with custom options to specifically fit your needs and specifications.  Contact Komax and speak with a skilled technician to find the best fit for your plant’s needs.