Climate and Ripening System

Safe, gentle ripening depends on the interaction of temperature, humidity, air velocity and time. SORGO develops complete climate and ripening systems for salami and raw fermented sausage, dry-cured ham, bacon and products with natural ripening or noble mould. The control coordinates temperature, humidity and air distribution with the product so that it is dehumidified and dried gently and as quickly as possible, without case hardening.

Process areas

Each stage is designed for the product, loading, room size and target drying curve. Rooms can be part of a complete ripening line or work on their own.

• Pre-ripening / fermentation / sweating: controlled warming, fermentation, curing colour development and the start of drying, with precise temperature and humidity control, high air capacity at gentle velocity at the product and a reproducible start of the ripening curve.
• Ripening / post-ripening / storage rooms: uniform drying, ripening and stabilisation over long process times, from compact rooms to large multi-level installations, with reversing alternating airflow, 2-way or 4-way climate systems and optional enthalpy-based use of outside air.

System architecture

Air volume, dehumidification capacity and heating and cooling capacities are matched to the products. Ducts are integrated neatly into the panel-built room.

Alternating airflow principle

The SORGO climate concept combines a climate conditioning unit (temperature and humidity), suction and exhaust ducts, a fresh-air duct, pressure ducts and a reversing damper that alternately distributes the recirculated air to the pressure ducts. Adjustable discs at the extraction openings set the extraction rate, and outlet nozzles in different sizes adapt air velocity and air volume to the product and room. The mixing unit is normally installed inside the treatment room but can also be placed outside; all ducts are routed to suit the room.

Heating and cooling coils

SORGO makes its own finned-tube heating and cooling coils in stainless steel 1.4301 (tubes, fins, headers and distributors), supplied with matching control valves. They deliver high capacities in a small space and are designed for CO₂, Freon/HFC, glycol, ammonia or other agreed refrigerants.

An interactive airflow simulation on the SORGO website shows the air paths and the changes in airflow direction.

Control

The system is operated with the SORGO SCS X1 control on a 15.6-inch industrial touchscreen with storable programmes and precise process control. SORGO INSPECT adds central process documentation, and remote operation from a smartphone or tablet is optional.