The Computer Controlled Laboratory Pasteurizer, “PASC”, allows continuous flow conditions with flow rates between 1 and 30 l of product per hour. Temperatures up to 90 ºC can be obtained and residence times and efficiencies can be changed. The main element of the Laboratory Pasteurizer is its plate heat exchanger. It is divided into three sectors, for heating, interchanging and cooling.

A series of pasteurization process stages can be distinguished:

• A first stage where the preheating of the food product is realized.

The Pasteurizer receives the product from the feed tank and preheats it in the central section (interchanging) of the heat exchanger, by crosscurrent circulation with the pasteurized and hot product.

• Then, the product flows to a second heating stage where the temperature of the product is increased to a value enough to eliminate the high microorganisms (72° C approximately), during a holding time.

This heating stage is obtained by circulating the product crosscurrent with the hot water from the tank where there is a heating element.

The product is kept at the pasteurization temperature during 15 – 20 seconds in the retention section.

• Instead of the pasteurized product going out at 72° C, it is made to circulate crosscurrent with the incoming product at 4°C, so a double effect is obtained:

Energy savings when preheating the incoming product from the initial temperature of 4°C to 56°C. The efficiency in the energy recuperation process can reach 75 %.

Outlet of the pasteurized product at the temperature of 40 ºC, which helps the last stage.

• The last stage in the heat exchanger is to process the cooling of the product for its conservation. To do this, the product is passed through the last heat exchanger sector by crosscurrent circulation with the cold water.

The Computer Controlled Laboratory Pasteurizer, “PASC”, also allows the student to become familiar with a cleaning process known as CIP (Clean In Place) and is automatically carried out by sectors, as it is in real pasteurization plants.

This Computer Controlled Unit is supplied with the EDIBON Computer Control System (SCADA), and includes: The unit itself + a Control Interface Box + a Data Acquisition Board + Computer Control, Data Acquisition and Data Management Software Packages, for controlling the process and all parameters involved in the process.