CIP System Design Decoded: Top FAQ That Will Save You Time and Money!

For those unfamiliar with the word CIP, it’s a cleaning system. Beverage manufacturers (such as breweries) will utilize it to automatically clean and/or sanitize certain process equipment (such as pipes and tanks) without the need for disassembly.
Many problems with these systems arise due to misinformation provided by “out of the box” CIP providers. These one-size-fits-all solutions rarely work as promised, disappointing results can strain resources, and failures in the cleaning process can lead to serious product quality issues. On the other hand, a tailored CIP solution may be daunting at first, but it offers great value in the long run.

What product do I clean?

It is important to understand this because different applications require different levels of TACT. Different types of food and chemical soils present unique cleaning challenges.

T-time
A-action
C-concentration
T-temperature

Light cleaning

Soil dissolves easily and does not cling tightly to the walls of tanks and pipes. Usually, most soils can be removed by a thorough pre-rinse, while the remaining soils are easily dissolved with an alkaline wash. In some cases, a single or two-tank system may be sufficient.

Moderate to heavy cleaning

Products require stronger detergent concentrations and higher temperatures. Multiple high-temperature caustic and acid washes may be required.

Do you work with chemical suppliers and determine chemicals, exposure times, and temperatures?

A good chemical supplier can analyze the water, soil the plant has and choose a chemical that will provide the fastest and most efficient reaction to break it down. Often, they can recommend the time required to complete the reaction (contact time) and the optimal temperature to help the soil break down.

Are your tanks designed for CIP cleaning?

Tanks made by older processes are often not designed for the spray balls used for cleaning them. For some of these systems, ports can be added to the tank and it works efficiently. But with most tanks, when adding spray balls to old tanks that are not designed to be cleaned in place, there is often a problem with solution leaks.

Does your production line have the proper slope to ensure adequate drainage?

When cleaning, water left in between cleaning steps can cause residues that reduce cleaning effectiveness. And standing water in the system can be a place for bacteria to start growing during downtime.

What functions can the CIP system perform?

A properly equipped CIP system can be used to perform a variety of different tasks, including cleaning tanks, lines, and equipment. Customers looking to integrate a CIP system into a brewery may require it to perform only one of these tasks or to perform several tasks simultaneously.

Are tanks usually hot cleaned or cold cleaned?

Tanks are usually cleaned at ambient temperature, but higher temperatures may be required in some cases. In these cases, maintaining a constant temperature during the cleaning cycle and regulating the temperature throughout the cooling process becomes critical and requires additional programming to protect the brewing equipment. Micet Craft is very familiar with these applications and can help optimize the right solution.

Is there a standardized CIP system commodity?

When a manufacturer or distributor tells you that a CIP system will perform as expected when it arrives, it’s easy to believe the hype. While this may be true in the most basic sense, there are many other aspects to consider.
Although the components in a CIP system may look like commodities, the design of the system, integration with brewery equipment, and customization to customer requirements make the CIP system a bespoke solution. Almost 100% of CIP systems become custom projects that require extensive installation and configuration experience.

What utilities are required to run a CIP system?

In general, a fully functional CIP system requires a water source, a chemical source, steam, condensate return (for heating), and drains (both gravity and power drains). Every factor here is determining the size and the total number of tanks required and the piping required.

Can your CIP system guarantee 360° cleaning without dead angle?

When cleaning, the cleaning solution must be able to completely flush all pipes and equipment. If brewery equipment cannot be rinsed clean, some cleaning solution may remain in the equipment and affect subsequent brewing operations.

Knowing these 9 common problems, you can determine whether your brewing system needs only a few simple adjustments to get it clean in place, or if it requires major adjustments to be able to implement the CIP process. Of course, you can also learn more and save a lot of time and money by reading other articles on CIP systems.

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