Cleaner tanks mean greater profitability for ethanol producers

Alfa Laval tank cleaning technology enables ethanol producers to improve fermenter tank cleaning efficiency to such an extent that it dramatically improves productivity and reduces overall costs.
All the process systems and tanks used in the ethanol production industry need regular cleaning to prevent contamination during the fermentation process. Cleaning of the fermenters after each production batch is an essential part of the normal cleaning procedure. For this specific duty, conventional spray ball technology has proven ineffective – with or without the use of biocides - because the spray ball does not impact sufficiently on the fermenter’s internal surfaces.
Consequently, it takes a long time to ensure that the fermenter is cleaned to the appropriate standard .By contrast, Alfa Laval rotary jet heads carry out this and other essential tank cleaning duties rapidly and automatically. This specialist equipment is designed to provide 360° indexed impact cleaning that has been pre-defined using sophisticated computer software over a preset period of time.
Such rapid, fully automated cleaning virtually eliminates downtime and other production disruptions necessitated by frequent tank cleaning. In an age when water conservation is becoming a necessity, rotary jet heads also drastically reduce the quantities of water and biocide used in the cleaning operation. More efficient cleaning of the fermenters also increases fermentation performance and saves money on antibiotics.  Main benefits for ethanol producers include: