Читать книгу Thermal Food Engineering Operations - NITIN KUMAR - Страница 20

There are several advantages of IR over traditional heating techniques: [1].

Instant heat: Electric IR system forms heat instantly so there is no need for heat build-up.

Reduced operating costs: The energy can reach 50%, depending upon the insulation, types of construction, and other factors. Furthermore, operations maintenance is limited to the cleaning of reflectors and heat source changing.

Clean and safe: Operating IR is a low-risk task and there is no production of by-products.

Zone control: The IR energy is absorbed only where it is directed and does not propagate. Other advantages of IR are as follows:

1 Quick heating rate

2 Shorter residence time

3 Uniform drying temperature

4 A high degree of process control

5 Higher thermal efficiency

6 Cleaner work environment

7 Alternate source of energy

The utilization of IR technique in the food sector is still developing; many attempts are continuously growing for the development of IR technologies and the future research is focusing on process control and equipment design development, expanding the areas of applications of IR heating and understanding the interaction between heating process and product characteristics.