PK Pasteurisation System

SORGO PK pasteurisation systems combine short thermal processes for extending shelf life with cooking, showering and blast chilling functions in a single chamber, tailored to the product and its packaging. Heating, holding and chilling without transferring the load reduce handling, limit thermal stress and help keep the desired product characteristics. A longer validated shelf life gives more time for transport, storage and sale, which can open longer delivery routes, export markets and retail channels.

Process

1. Heat up quickly – the chamber reaches around 110 °C in around five minutes.
2. Hold – the temperature is held for the required process effect.
3. Cool intensively – heat is removed rapidly, critical temperature ranges are passed quickly and residual cooking is limited.

Temperature, time, counterpressure and chilling are controlled as one product programme, and each trolley position has its own circulation fan.

Functions

• Pasteurisation under counterpressure
• Rapid cooking under counterpressure at elevated temperature
• Cooking and humidification with directly injected low-pressure saturated steam
• Vertical and horizontal showers
• Active blast chilling with cooling coils to the required core temperature
• Drying phases (electric supplementary heating optional)

Applications include meat and sausage products, delicatessen and pasta products, jars and cans, vacuum- and MAP-packed products and suitable unpackaged products.

Construction and safety

The inner casing and chamber floor are made of stainless steel 1.4571, the outer casing of 1.4301, with 100 mm mineral wool insulation and a reinforced floor. At 0.49 bar gauge pressure every square metre of chamber surface carries 49 kN (about five tonnes-force), so chamber, door and locking are built for these loads. The pressure-controlled safety lock only releases the 210 mm thick door, carried on six heavy-duty hinges, once the chamber is depressurised. Temperature and pressure monitoring and an emergency stop are included; the pneumatic loading ramp moves automatically with the door position. With a maximum allowable pressure (PS) of 0.49 bar the chamber is outside the scope of the EU Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU.

Heating and cooling

• HP steam finned-tube coil in stainless steel 1.4301 in the upper section.
• Direct LP saturated steam injection for cooking and humidification.
• Optional electric supplementary heating for dry-heat processes.
• Counterflow cooling coils in 1.4301 in the supply-air ducts.
• Vertical and horizontal showers; optional two-fluid mist nozzles.
• Two-speed air circulation with central return and shaped nozzles for uniform distribution.

Optional CIP cleaning

• One central cleaning station supplies several connected systems and cleans them automatically one after another.
• Detergent dosing adjustable from 1 to 10 %.
• A stainless steel booster pump delivers approx. 10 bar cleaning pressure, independent of the mains water pressure.
• Automatic fresh-water rinse after cleaning and contact time.

Control

Programmes, operation and documentation of the SORGO SCS X1 are configured for the system version; SORGO INSPECT provides central analysis and process overview.

Sizes

Four sizes from PK3000 (1 trolley) to PK12000 (4 trolleys); HP steam heating, LP steam cooking and cooling are standard.