8 Ways Vacuum Pumps Are Used In The Food Industry

There are numerous applications for vacuum pumps. In the paper industry, they play a crucial role in their process. Vacuum pumps are also extensively utilized in various industries, including mining, power generating, chemical, and others.

Surprisingly, what strikes people is how crucial vacuum pumps are to the food industry. In sophisticated food manufacturing systems, stainless steel pumps are made to continue operating for an extended period. In fact, according to recent studies, the industrial vacuum pump market might have a USD$1.16 billion growth differential between 2021 and 2026.

If you work in the food manufacturing industry and want to improve the efficiency of your processing systems, a vacuum pump is a way to go. This article will provide several ways vacuum pumps can be helpful in the food industry.

How Are Vacuum Pumps Helpful In The Food Industry

Here’s a quick overview of some of the ways vacuum pumps aid workers in the food industry:

• Secure Packaging For Preservation

Food preservation is a complicated procedure. Before the food is packed, air must be removed from the packets. The vacuum pump makes this process simpler. It aids in extending the shelf life of the product. In addition, oxygen can be taken out of containers before food is packed using a vacuum pump. It aids in preventing bacterial growth.

Additionally, it prevents volatile substances from evaporating and preserves the flavor and texture of food. Notably, it also shields the food from dry air, lowering the risk of freezer burn. If you want to reduce wasting food, it’d be best to look for a reliable vacuum pump vendor like https://www.nwflowtech.com/ to ensure you’re getting one of the best models out there.

• Easy Drying For Specific Food

One of the foods that are hardest to dry is corn. It can’t be packaged with excess water for sanitary and preservation concerns. The process of drying corn can be facilitated with a specialized vacuum pump.

Vacuum pumps not only assist in evaporating water from corn utilizing a combination of high temperatures, but they can also lessen the loss of corn crop parts like the seed and ear. Manufacturers may save millions of dollars annually on energy and labor by employing vacuum pumps.

• Assist In Poultry Evisceration

One of the most crucial steps in preparing fish, game meats, and poultry for packaging is evisceration. The technique comprises removing the organs to prepare the object for cleansing, cooking, or freezing.

To help remove the entrails from packaged meats, vacuum pumps are crucial. This procedure’s effectiveness can result in improved food quality, better sanitation, and higher operational productivity.

• Aid In Sugar Crystallization

One of the food industry’s trickiest operations is sugar manufacturing. Vacuum pumps refine sugar cane into quality ingredients for the market. Sugar cane is crushed and shredded in factories while quickly blended with water.

Afterwards, a specialized vacuum pump filters the sludge or any leftover juice from this mixture. The employment of these pumps also aids the evaporation and crystallization of sugar in facilities. The last step, the carbonation of sugar, also requires vacuum pumps. It shows how vital vacuum pumps are in creating our beloved sugar.

• Helps In Removing Vegetable Oil Odor

Deodorization is used to rid edible oils and fats of extraneous substances. Vegetable oil can have its flavor, color, odor, and stability affected by volatile substances. These compounds can be removed from the oil using vacuum pumps. The oil is kept in a vacuum during this procedure to stop oxidation.

The final product will be purified due to the creation of oxygen bubbles, which will cause all extraneous materials to rise to the top of the oil. Deodorization helps firms run efficient food processing processes by lowering heat transfer rates.

• Lessen Contamination Chances With Flash Cooling

Milk is a delicate food item that needs the proper storage conditions to keep its quality. The milk needs to be appropriately maintained to prevent bacteria from growing. Milk must be kept in a vacuum chamber at the ideal temperature.

In this manner, extra water is eliminated by a procedure called flash cooling. Milk is less volatile after being flash-cooled. After flash cooling, milk may be appropriately stored without worrying about subjecting the product to abrupt temperature variations that might contaminate it.

• Flushing Oxygen In Beer Bottles

When filling beer bottles, brewery businesses must ensure the oxygen levels are as low as possible. Breweries typically combine or use one of the two techniques listed below to accomplish this. 

The bottles are often cleansed with CO2 before being filled, and beer is added using a long tube filler. They use this technique, which results in significant carbon IV oxide consumption. Since the oxygen has been fully extracted, breweries flush bottles with CO2 and expel them to lower the carbon dioxide content.

• Filtering Out Water

Mineral water drawn from natural springs frequently contains unprocessed minerals that must be removed before packing. These minerals include iron and carbonic acid. Iron dissolves in water, giving a peculiar flavor when it oxidizes.  

In cases like this, a vacuum pump comes in handy. It removes the carbonic acid and then adds it again to produce sparkling water. Mineral water must be compressed at a pressure of 50 mbar to have a good flavor.

Hopefully, you’ve seen vacuum pumps in a better light after reaching this part of the article. Vacuum pumps are now essential in several industries. It dramatically helps workers with their work efficiency and, at the same time, improves the end products quality.

Benefits Of Dry Vacuum Pumps Over Traditional Wet Pumps

The food industry used to rely heavily on wet pumps. These hydraulic pumps ensured that the packing food operations were carried out as precisely as possible. Wet pumps, however, are created when gas is in contact with water and oil. The workplace may become contaminated by oil thanks to this untidy technique.

In the worst case, the oil might taint the food being packaged. Dry pumps in the food business are replacing wet pumps due to this. Dry vacuum offers these other advantages while enabling cleaner use and significantly more effective food packaging:

• Easier Cleaning

Dry pumps can be manually cleaned using the cleaning supplies of your choice. It may result in less downtime, maintenance work, and pump repairs. This is especially beneficial in the food processing industry where sanitation is crucial.

• Easier To Maintain

Dry pump use can help minimize overall running expenses because it uses less electricity and heat and doesn’t require water or oil. Additionally, compared to old-fashioned wet pumps still in use today, dry pumps need fewer maintenance procedures and repairs.

• Provides Better Work Environment

Facilities can keep the temperature within their buildings at the ideal level, thanks to low heat generation and noise levels. Dry pumps, as opposed to wet pumps, also reduce the chance of slip-and-fall accidents brought on by sporadic oil leaks.

In general, dry vacuum pumps offer an affordable and effective pump substitute for vacuum processing and packaging in the food sector. Additionally, they ensure that no harmful gas molecules come into contact with the food while it’s being processed. Dry vacuum pumps have other advantages over wet pumps, especially in different industries.

Takeaway

Cost pressures and small profit margins are almost certainly to blame for the slow adoption of new technologies, especially vacuum equipment used in food production and processing.

However, modern dry vacuum technology has been demonstrated to boost the output and efficiency of contemporary food processing operations with a quick return on investment. Hence, adopting this new technology is essential for food producers looking to stay competitive and profitable in today’s global food economy.