If in-line monitoring for Clean-In-Place (CIP) control is applied at all, traditionally a conductivity measurement is usually selected.
A high savings potential applies when considering the use of in-line photometric sensing for applications such as phase separation, product identification and the detection of contaminations.
Photometric sensors can be configured specifically per application based on: turbidity and clarity, as well as product colour or UV absorbance at defined wavelengths. These sensors typically exhibit a faster response time and higher reproducibility, which leads to reduced product loss and minimized effluent volumes.
Moreover, with the increasing demand for quality control, an optical sensor can be validated quickly on the spot by means of traceable optical filters. In contrast to more traditional sensor technologies, there is no need to remove the sensor from the proces and testing it against physical standards.
Hence, the use of optical measurements can be highly advantageous when designing CIP installations or optimizing CIP control.