Characterisation of the Mechanical Properties of Heat-Induced Protein Deposits in Immersed Cleaning Systems

Characterisation of the Mechanical Properties of Heat-Induced Protein Deposits in Immersed Cleaning Systems
English | 2023 | ISBN: 3031218485 | 168 Pages | PDF EPUB (True) | 11 MB
During heat treatment in dairy production, the rapid formation of heat-induced fouling deposits on the plant surface leads to reduced efficiency of heat transfer. Therefore, a regular cleaning process is required to soften the heat-induced protein deposits and then remove them from the plant surface. The mechanical property of the deposits is one of the key issues of the cleaning mechanisms since the non-fractured behaviour dominates the deformation of the fouling layer and the failure behaviour has a great impact on the cohesive removal of fouling deposits. Considering the complicated geometry of fouling deposits and their irregular distribution, indentation experiments were carried out on various kinds of protein deposits. The experimental results reveal the significant influence of the thickness of fouling deposits on their mechanical behaviour and the time-dependent nonlinear behaviour of the deposits.