テトラ・サーム® アセプティック VTIS 直接 UHT処理装置

メリット

テトラ・サーム® アセプティック VTISは、最高品質アセプティック製品の最先端直接超高温殺菌（UHT）処理を代表してきました。これは、蒸気を直接注入する連続 UHT 処理の無菌充填ユニットです。主に、牛乳、栄養強化ミルク、クリーム、豆乳、調整済み乳製品、アイスクリームミックス、乳製品デザート、ESL（品質保持期間延長）製品など、熱に敏感な低酸度の製品を処理します。また、スープ、ソース、植物性クリームやでん粉由来製品など、滑らかな製品にも適しており、小さな固形物も扱うことができます。

主なデータ

無菌状態で液体食品の連続ダイレクト UHT 処理が可能なシステム

処理能力
2,000 リットル / 時～ 30 000 リットル / 時（可変容量 1:2 は標準）

用途
牛乳、栄養強化ミルク、クリーム、豆乳、調整済み乳製品、アイスクリームミックス、ESL（品質保持期間延長）製品、乳製品デザート、植物性クリーム、滑らかなスープやソース。

Tetra Therm® Aseptic VTIS

Premium quality with direct UHT

Low overall heat load minimizes impact on taste, colour and nutritional value
Suitable for a wide range of dairy and plant-based products
Highest operational efficiency for direct UHT systems on the market

特長

Steam injection

Product quality and efficiency

Steam is injected rapidly into the product, instant heating it from 80° to the UHT temperature, followed by condensation (only 0.1 seconds) and temperature equilibrium. The combination of a high sterilization temperature and a short heating time ensures that microorganisms and spores are deactivated with minimal impact on the product's taste and colour. The process also involves very low fouling, which in turn means outstanding clean-ability, less downtime for cleaning and overall lower cleaning costs.

Steam infusion

Minimizes impact on product taste, colour and consistency

The basic principle of steam infusion is to heat a product by passing it through an atmosphere of steam. The product's spreading system may vary, but the resulting milk droplet size must be uniform, to maintain a steady heat transfer rate. The steam infusion process is similar to steam injection system but gentler (less shear) which gives greater product stability. It is therefore especially good for whipping cream and products containing stabilizers. However, it requires more steam, cooling water and additional product losses which leads to a 4 – 8 % higher operating cost than steam injection.

Flash-cooling

Minimal product losses, efficient operation and maintenance

Flash cooling – which takes place in the condenser-equipped vacuum vessel - enables rapid cooling of the product. Partial vacuum is maintained by a pump and controlled to ensure the same amount of water is evaporated as was earlier added as steam. The large diameter and the conical shaped top, in combination with the long distance between the product inlet and vapour outlet ensure low carry over and minimal loss of flavour.

The compact vacuum vessel with built-in condenser gives you quick and efficient pre-sterilization and cleaning. It is also designed for easy access for inspection, service and maintenance.

Double balance tank system

Low product losses

There is one tank for product and another for water. The latter – a CIP header batch tank - is used as a second water tank at water-to-product change over, enabling a sharp water-to-product interface. In addition, a reduced bottom diameter shortens the mix phase. Volume-controlled filling and emptying minimise product losses to less than 150 litres per production run of 15,000 litres.

Heat exchanger protective panels

Great energy savings potential

Protective panels built around the Tetra Pak® Tubular Heat Exchanger encapsulate the equipment and contain the heat. This gives up to 6% savings on energy consumption compared to heat exchangers without panels. With added insulation, savings can increase to 11%. The panels also increase operator safety since they reduce the risk of contact with hot surfaces.

Heat exchanger floating protection system

Longer lifetime and exceptional efficiency

Aseptic product in the inner tubes of the Tetra Pak® Tubular Heat Exchanger flows at a higher pressure than the untreated product on the shell side. A floating protection system allows for thermal expansion, greatly reducing the risk of damage from cracking, and consequent loss of sterility. In addition to extending lifetime, this improves food safety.

Combined heating solution

Keeps operating costs down

Instead of buying two different units, you can purchase a readymade combi model or upgrade your existing equipment to manage both direct and indirect heating methods. When producing premium products, the VTIS mode (direct UHT) gives optimal taste and colour. When producing a variety of products (i.e. both standard and premium quality) it is possible to run the equipment in Flex mode (indirect heating) or Plus mode (combining direct and indirect heating) and thereby lower utilities costs.

Automatic damper

For longer running times

Homogenizer dampers absorb pressure variation and shocks before and after the homogenizer. Automatic air refill maintains the air cushion in the homogenizer damper to ensure smooth operation. Without the air cushion, vibration and cavitation would occur and shorten the running time. Fully automated CIP is included - increasing operator safety, improving hygiene, and further optimizing the production cycle.