Enhancement of clean-in-place procedures in powder production using ultraviolet-induced fluorescence

In powder manufacturing facilities, clean-in-place (CIP) is a technique utilised for cleaning internal surfaces of equipment without having to dismantle them. However, the process is commonly based an open loop approach with parameter settings dependent on estimation and assumptions, leading to increased energy consumption and decreased process availability. It has previously been demonstrated that ultraviolet-induced fluorescence of proteins can be used for the detection of liquid foodstuffs in order to reduce CIP cycle times. This research investigates the suitability of an RGB vision sensor for detecting ultraviolet induced fluorescence of proteins in a range of powders (foodstuffs and detergents) under a simulated cleaning process. An image processing procedure is described that enables the evaluation of remaining fouling within a sample. The sensitivity of the system is demonstrated by comparing the coverage (area) of fouling against the volume remaining (weight). The suitability of the technique for industrial application is discussed.