Armfield Industrial Food Technology
Miniature Scale R&D Technology
FT102X CARBOnator/FILLer - issue 1
NEW improved
The ability to establish precise and repeatable parameters when carbonating in the laboratory can dramatically improve the speed with which new products can be developed. The Armfield FT102X miniature-scale carbonator enables precise and flexible carbonation.
FEATURES
> Accurate control of filling and carbonating variables
> Option of filling and crown seal capping and/or screw top capping at a single station
> 30L process vessel, batches as small as 5L can be processed
> Fast test procedures
> Throughputs up to 60LPH
> Any type of can or bottle can be used from 0.15 - 2.0l
> C02 content in excess of 10g/l can be realised
> Enhanced touch screen control
> Many parameters can be automated
> Carbonates foaming products
> Carbonates at any temperature between 4°C - 20°C
> Premix and postmix capability
> Optional colour touch-screen control panel
> Adding protective gases (N2 connection now standard)
> Improved cleaning programs with heater and spray ball
> Fills non-carbonated drinksAccurate control of filling and carbonating variables
Benefits
> Easily reproducible test batches
> Very flexible and accurate
> No CO2 loss during filling due to double stage cooling
> Easy to use: many functions automated
> Cost saving: for small test batches no production line is required
Description
Description of Operation
The FT102X is a combined carbonator and filler, designed primarily to allow R&D staff to prepare small quantities of beverages with repeatable characteristics and replicating the production product.
The carbonation takes place using a recirculation pump (gear pump) to circulate the product from a 30L vessel through a heat exchanger system and a sinter tube where the CO2 is introduced. The pressure in the carbonation vessel is controlled automatically by the plc. The vessel has two compartments, an outer compartment from which the product to be carbonated is drawn, and an inner compartment which contains the most recently carbonated product. When the inner compartment is fullthe contents overflow into the outer compartment.
The product is chilled down to below the required carbonation temperature using a plate heat exchanger and a chilled water supply. The customer can either use their own chilled water supply or use the Armfield FT63 re-circulating process chiller (which can also be used with other products in the laboratory such as an Armfield FT74). The plate heat exchanger is able to be dismantled fully for cleaning. Accurate control of product temperature is achieved using an in-line heater under PID control.
After carbonation, the product is passed to the filling head through a second stage of the plate heat exchanger (to prevent CO2 release).
The filling process takes place under PLC control. It consists of raising the bottle to the filling head, syrup dosing (if option fitted), evacuating the bottle (option), flushing the bottle with CO2 (or N2 if not carbonating), pressurising the bottle (CO2 or N2), counter-pressure filling the bottle, re-pressurising the vessel, allowing time for the contents to level-out, de-pressurising(or snifting) and clearing the overflow.
Most functions of the FT102X are under PLC control and the operator interface is a touch screen control panel.
TOP
Preparation
Preparing Carbonated Beverages in the Laboratory
The ability to establish precise and repeatable parameters when carbonating in the laboratory can dramatically improve the speed with which new products can be developed. The Armfield FT102X miniature-scale carbonator enables precise and flexible carbonation.
The FT102X is a totally new design, replacing the original FT102 and FT103. Based on market feedback over the seven successful years of these popular products, we have now included a large number of improvements and enhancements. In particular, special attention has been given to the ease of use, enhanced flexibility, reliability and improvedClean in Place (CIP).
Both pre-mix and post-mix operations are available from the standard machine, and an option is available to add the syrup for post-mix automatically. Other options allow for de-aeration of the product and evacuation of the bottles, continuous processing capability, and fillingand capping (screw and/or crown) at a single station without removingthe bottle. A wide range of cans, PET and glass bottles can be handled.The standard unit handle sizes from 0.15 to 2.0 litres.
The FT102X Carbonator Filler is easy to install, set up and use. Touch screen control is used with a new graphical interface, allowing different carbonating and filling scenarios to be set and stored. The improved semi-automatic cleaning programme enables the unit to be made ready for another product or formulation very quickly. The FT102X is ideally suited as a general purpose filling and carbonation installation for small laboratory applications. Used in conjunction with one of Armfield's FT74 UHT/HTST units, a complete drinks line can be created in thelaboratory; consisting of heat treatment, carbonation, filling and capping.
TOPApplications
> Soft drinks
> Beer
> Milk
> Juices and cordials
> Water
> Condiments
> Health and nutritional products
Optional Features
| Option | Product description |
|---|---|
| FT102X-1 | 20cm (eight inches) colour touch-screen control panel (instead of the standard 15cm (six inches) monochrome control panel). The larger colour panel provides a very user friendly interface. The functions are implemented on fewer screens and in a way that is easy and intuitive to use, plus extremely flexible as it allows direct access to all parameters from a single screen even whilst the filling is taking place. On screen ‘Help’ is available. |
| FT102X-2 | Capper enabling system, incorporated into the filling station.
This option allows the user to fit either the crown seal capper
or the screw capping head into the filling head. It includes a pneumatic drive which is used to move out the filling head and position the selected capper over the bottle. The two capping heads are interchangeable once installed, and can easily be fitted by the user. |
| FT102X-3 | Crown seal capper mechanism (includes 1 set of callipers) (Requires FT102X-2). |
| FT102X-4 | Screw cap sealer mechanism. Includes a motor drive with a variable torque settingto allow for a wide range of bottles and screw caps. (Requires FT102X-2). |
| FT102X-6 | Filling head for cans (diameter up to 70 mm). |
| FT102X-10 | Vacuum system for both de-aerating the product (prior to carbonating) and for evacuating the bottles prior to filling.It includes the vacuum pump, the addition of a de-aeration surface in the chamber and all the valves and controls for both processes. The evacuation parameters are integrated seamlessly with the other filling functions on the operator interface panel and are saved as part of the normal filling data. |
| FT102X-14 | Syrup feed systems comprising feed vessel for syrup or flavouring, peristaltic metering pump, plus the various valves and facilities for automated syrup dosing. The syrup dosing parameters are integrated seamlessly with the other filling functions on the operator interface panel and are saved as part of the normal filling data. |
| FT102X-17 | PET bottle neck support, to prevent crushing of containers during filling. |
| FT102X-19 | Filling head for bottles with an opening from 25 mm to 43 mm (O/D). |
| FT102X-22 | Connection for hot filling or metering pump (included in option FT102X-14). |
| FT102X-35 | Filling tube for different headspace. |
| FT102X-44 | Continuous Operation Facility This option comprises a buffer tank and pump to allow product to be taken from a continuous process(such as an Armfield UHT system) and matched to the FT102X Carbonator/Filler. The buffer tank is filled from the feeding system and the pump transfers the contents to the FT102X carbonation vessel as required. |
(Note: The FT102X-1,-2,-4,-10,-14,-22 and -35 options must be specified at initial purchase and cannot be added later)
Technical Specifications
| Item | description |
|---|---|
| Gas pressure: | 0-4 bar |
| Gas content: | 0->10 g/l |
| Vessel capacity: | 30 litre (certified in accordance with the Pressure Equipment Directive) (27 litre product capacity) |
| Contact surfaces: | 316SS or food grade silicone hose |
| Gasses: | CO2 , N2 or any safe, non-flammable alternatives
or mixtures. During cleaning compressed air is used |
requirements
Electricity
FT102X-A 220-240V/1ph/10A/50Hz
FT102X-G 220-240V/1ph/10A/60Hz
FT63(SS)-A 220-240V/1ph/10A/50Hz
FT63(SS)-G 220-240V/1ph/10A/60Hz
Water supply
Supply of chilled water at approx 1°C to 5°C below the carbonation temperature, @ 10L/min The Armfield FT63 and FT63SS (stainless steel version of FT63) are ideal for use with the FT102X
Others supplies
CO2 (and/or N2) supply with manual regulator, 5 bar
Compressed air supply with manual regulator, 6 bar
TOPAncillary Equipment
The Armfield range of UHT processing systems may be used to pasteurise the product prior to carbonation and filling. Units may be linked directly to the Carbonator-Filler. Available options include the FT74P (indirect heating using a plate heat exchanger), The FT74T (indirect heating using a tubular heat exchanger) and the FT74DI (direct heating by injection of steam).
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Shipping specification
FT102X
Volume: 2.1m³
Gross weight: 372kg
FT63
Volume: 0.7m³
Gross weight: 160kg
Overall dimensions
FT102X
Height: 1.75m
Width: 0.75m
Depth: 0.80m
FT63
Height: 0.89m
Width: 0.57m
Depth: 0.76m
