LABORATORY-SCALE UHT SYSTEM

It is generally required to assess the effects of heat treatment on the physical and chemical properties of the components of a particular food system by evaluating the product of concern under continuous flow conditions, and at the heat treatment levels used in the industry. To apply continuous heat treatment to various dairy-based fluid systems a laboratory scale, continuous flow indirect heat exchanger was designed. The unit is proven to be easy to construct, calibrate and manipulate. Low cost, ease of cleaning and small sample volume requirement make the unit highly useful for the investigation of the effects of any industrial temperature-time combinations on certain properties of food systems. In addition, the unit can be easily modified to study fouling of model food systems in continuous flow heat exchangers.