CIP Piping, Valves, and Fittings

Clean-In-Place is an automated way of cleaning the internal surfaces of process vessels and tubing system without disassembly. This means maintenance labor and time is significantly reduced, while still maintaining high hygiene standards.

The CIP method involves circulating a mixture of water, chemicals, and heat, through the system. Temperatures often reach as high as 90C, and a mix of caustic substances and acids move at speeds fast enough to create a scrubbing effect. Hot water is then used to rinse of the cleaning chemicals before production resumes.

The Infrastructure: CIP Piping

The piping used in any automated cleaning system is sanitary piping, the material will either be SS 304 or SS 316L. High grade stainless steel is used to resist the corrosive chemicals used for the cleaning cycle.

Unlike industrial grade piping, sanitary piping have a smooth internal surface finish of 0.8 Ra or better. The smoothness makes sure that product cannot get hooked to the surface, allowing the strong flow of cleaning agents to wash away contaminants effectively.

The Connections and Junctions: CIP Fittings

Contamination often occur at the connections, and CIP fittings are designed to prevent this. Before sanitary connections, food and beverage manufacturers relied on threaded unions, which are difficult to clean because product tends to get stuck at the threads.

Modern CIP fittings come with the Tri Clamp Unions. These fittings are designed to create a smooth internal surface. When the two ferrules are clamped with a sanitary gasket and tightened, the internal diameter of the fitting perfectly matches the pipe. This eliminates threads or steps, ensuring cleaning fluid reaches every surface.

Flow Control: The CIP Valve

CIP valves do more than just stop flow, they must be drainable. A sanitary valve should not have internal threads or sharp corners. The seals used have to withstand cleaning chemicals without losing integrity too quickly. Most CIP valves can be equipped with actuators, allowing the valves to pulse and increase cleanliness.

Some valves like CIP Ball Valves look like normal industrial ball valves, but they are equipped with PTFE cavity fillers so that there is no room for product to accumulate. The internal surface of the valve is usually machined to a smooth near mirror finish.