Accurate In-line Blending Saves Concentrate
19 September 2005
Accurate dosing is essential for profitable production. Tetra Alblend allows up to six different liquid ingredients to be blended to the highest accuracy in the final beverage.
Blending accuracy and efficient product changeovers are crucial for successful large volume operation involving many product changes and intermediate rinse or CIP. Superior blending accuracy and changeover efficiency also has a positive effect on the yield. The Tetra Albend unit is based on mass flow technology for very high consistency and accuracy. Using a CO2 purging system minimises product losses at start/stop and product changes.
This performance, in combination with the advanced control system, means the unit produces a final beverage with outstanding °Brix accuracy. The blending accuracy of each stream has a standard deviation of equal to, or less than, 0.0125 °Brix.
Recipe Controlled
When production starts, the operator selects the recipe on the control panel’s touch screen or in the central control room. Recipe-controlled operations prevent operator errors and ensure consistent product quality.
The water is fed via a balance tank and a mass-flow meter. The concentrate is fed to a lantern with pressure-regulating gas and another mass flow meter. The thoroughly mixed common stream passes the in-line Brix meter, which will compensate for small variations in °Brix level via a cascade control loop.
Adding Streams
Tetra Alblend can handle up to six different streams. A simple two-stream unit can be extended with additional streams in the future.
If a powder ingredient is required, it can first be dissolved in a Tetra Almix, before being introduced as an additional stream into the Tetra Alblend.
Tetra Alblend is available in different sizes for final beverage flow rates up to 60,000l/h. The unit is factory tested using water before delivery.
About Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak works for and with its customers to provide preferred processing and packaging solutions for food. We apply our commitment to innovation, our understanding of consumer needs and our relationships with suppliers to deliver these solutions, wherever and whenever food is consumed. Tetra Pak is committed to making food safe and available, everywhere.
Operating in more than 165 markets with 21,100 employees, Tetra Pak believes in responsible industry leadership, creating profitable growth in harmony with environmental sustainability and good corporate citizenship.
