How the automatic cip cleaning system works？

Automatic CIP (Clean-In-Place) cleaning system is an automated system for efficient cleaning without dismantling the equipment, which is mainly used in food, pharmaceutical, chemical and other industries. Its working principle combines physical flushing, chemical dissolution, temperature control and automatic monitoring technology.

The cleaning procedure of fully automatic CIP system usually includes the following steps, and the order can be adjusted or the process can be simplified according to the actual demand:

• Pre-flushing (water flushing): Flush the inner surface of the equipment with water to remove loose residues.
• Alkaline rinsing: dissolving organic matter such as fats, proteins, etc. by means of a heated alkaline solution (e.g. 2% NaOH).
• Intermediate rinsing (hot water rinsing): removes residual lye to prevent reaction with subsequent acid solutions.
• Acid rinse: Dissolves inorganic salts and scale using an acidic solution (e.g. 2% HNO₃).
• Final rinse (fresh or purified water rinse): removes the cleaning agent completely and ensures that the equipment is clean and free of residues.

In some cases, the acid rinse step may be omitted and only the alkaline rinse process is performed.

The system achieves precise control through sensors and automation components:

• Temperature control: RTD or platinum RTD to monitor the temperature in real time, by adjusting the steam valve opening and closing (direct steam injection or heat exchanger heating) to maintain the cleaning fluid temperature.
• Liquid level and flow control: pressure transmitter to monitor the storage tank level, solenoid valves and pumps to automatically adjust the water volume; flow meter to control the flow rate of cleaning fluid to ensure that the effect of flushing.
• Concentration control: conductivity meter detects the conductivity of the cleaning liquid, and automatically adjusts the concentration of acid and alkali through the acid and alkali metering pump to ensure the efficiency of the chemical reaction.

The full-automatic CIP system consists of the following key modules working together:

• Cleaning solution preparation system: including acid tank, alkali tank, hot water tank, etc. It prepares cleaning solution of different concentrations as required and optimises the solution state through stirrer and heater.
• Conveying and recovery system:

Conveying pipeline and booster pump: convey the cleaning solution to the equipment to be cleaned, and form turbulence to flush the inner wall through nozzles or spray nozzles.
Return pump and filter: recover and filter the cleaning solution to extend the use cycle and reduce waste.

• Automated control system:

PLC and human-machine interface (touch screen): preset cleaning procedures, real-time display of temperature, time, conductivity and other parameters, support automatic / manual mode switching.
Data Recording and Alarm: Record the data of cleaning process, trigger alarm and adjust the process when abnormal.

• High efficiency and safety: no need for human intervention, reducing the risk of operational errors and cross-contamination, in line with GMP and other health standards.
• Flexible customisation: the cleaning procedure can be adjusted according to the type of equipment (e.g. fermentation tanks, pipelines), for example, fermentation tanks are based on alkaline washing, and clear wine tanks are based on acid washing.
• Energy-saving and environmentally friendly: recycling cleaning solution, reducing water consumption and wastewater discharge.