CIP (Cleaning In Place)
CIP (Cleaning In Place) is the cleaning of pipes, tanks and heat exchangers without dismantling them, by circulating cleaning solutions through them.
A CIP system pumps the solutions from tanks, passes them through the circuit and returns or discards them. Its effectiveness depends on the four factors of Sinner's circle: temperature, concentration, contact time and mechanical action, which here is provided by the speed and turbulence of the liquid. A typical sequence is: pre-rinse with water, alkaline phase for organic matter (fats and proteins), intermediate rinse, acid phase for mineral scale, another rinse and disinfection, with a final rinse when the disinfectant's data sheet indicates it. The products must generate little or no foam, because foam hinders pumping and contact with the walls. CIP is used for closed circuits; parts that do not get properly clean in circulation are dismantled and cleaned off-line (COP).
Instaquim products indicated for CIP or recirculation, according to their technical data sheet:
- Alcalino Pro 6 (pH 12.8 at 1 %): low-foam alkaline detergent; in recirculation, from 0.5 to 5 % at 45–70 ºC for 20–45 minutes, with pre-rinse and rinsing.
- Nitracip Pro (pH 1.5 at 1 %, with nitric acid): descaler for circuits and CIP systems; from 0.5 to 1 % at 40–60 ºC for 15–20 minutes.
- Enzi NF (pH 8.3): non-foaming enzymatic detergent for the prevention and removal of biofilms; from 1 to 3 %, in circulation 30–120 minutes at 40–50 ºC.
- Ten Cip (pH 9.5): enzymatic treatment of CIP systems together with Enzim Pro; from 0.2 to 0.5 %, 20–60 minutes at 40–55 ºC.
- Oxa Per (peracetic acid 5 %; registration 17-20/40-05521-HA; UNE-EN 13697 under clean conditions): disinfection also by recirculation; at 1 % for about 15 minutes at 20–50 ºC and rinsing with water.