Dec 29 2011 --- HRS Heat Exchangers, a leading heat transfer specialist for the process industry, has recently supplied Barbery Ltd. in Somerset with HRS MI series and industrial multi-tube HRS K series heat exchangers to heat Whey Protein Concentrate.

Whey proteins are used extensively in food products because of their good functional and nutritional properties and appeal to a whole range of consumers. Heat treatment is commonly used to improve the utilisation of valuable food components and to ensure safety assurance of products within the food industry.

HRS Heat Exchangers supplied Barbery Ltd. with hygienic multi-tube heat exchangers, HRS MI series for preheating feed to their spray dryer, thus providing sensible heat more efficiently than in the drying process. HRS have also supplied an industrial multi-tube K series heat exchanger in order to produce the hot water at 68ºC, using steam as the service medium. The MI and K series are ideal heat exchangers for whey heating, as corrugated tubes are used to increase heat transfer rates which makes them much more efficient than normal smooth tube heat exchangers.

To demonstrate to the customer and the end-user, HRS made a trial run at one of the technical centres in Murcia, Spain, using a sample provided by Barbery Ltd. The trials were made at the CTNC technical centre (a technology research centre based on Food Technology). The staff at CTNC logged the result independently, without any bias towards HRS. By trialing the product and producing a good report with visual evidence, HRS was able to confirm that HRS corrugates hygienic multi-tube exchangers was the right solution for Barbery Ltd.

HRS heat exchangers do not foul up and curdle the product, as had occurred previously. If fouling does occur, the deposits are normally very easy to remove since corrugation leads to an uneven film thickness. The final protein is then used as an additive in baby foods.

Julian Ing said, “Since the drying plant was installed preheating of the product has always been an issue, whey protein is naturally heat unstable and prone to deposit and foul heating surfaces, thus limiting run time possibilities. Since installation we have undergone trials and we are very happy with the system, we are now running at the desired capacity and temperature combination with most importantly the required runtime.

The unit was supplied on time and integrated into our system by our own engineering team, with HRS on hand to provide help and assistance during design and integration as required.”

Commenting on this project, Steven Pither, Managing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers Limited said, “HRS is finding more ways to restore a natural balance to the heat treatment process through its in-depth knowledge and by utilising years of experience in food processing. Thermal processing is key in the food and beverage industry and HRS has the capability to supply customers with state-of-the art whey processing technology.”