Filters for (culinary) steam

Steam is often used for sterilizing process lines and tanks. Steam is a very aggressive product, and as a result, it can contain high amounts of metal and physical particles. These particles can end up in the final product or cause damage to valves and shut-off devices.

Van Borselen filters offers a complete range of filter candles and housings. Depending on the industry and purpose of the process steam, different requirements are established. In general, we can say that there are three classes:

Filtration of "Process Steam": Process steam comes directly from the steam generator without further treatment. It is not suitable for direct contact with final products. The filtration of process steam is typically done with 5-micron or 25-micron metal filters (stainless steel).

Culinary steam:

Culinary steam is suitable for food contact. It must be filtered with stainless steel metal filter candles or pleated filters with a removal efficiency of 95% of particles >2µ (typically, a 1µ filter is used). Additives in the steam must comply with FDA CFR Title 21, Chapter 1, Part 173, Section 173.310. The standard for culinary steam is 3A 609-03.

Clean Steam:

Used in the pharmaceutical industry, clean steam is generated from very pure water (WFI: Water For Injection). Filtration is necessary to catch magnetic particles originating from the pipes (created by the corrosive purity of the steam). Typically, this is a 1-micron metal filter in stainless steel 316L (pharmaceutical 3A 609-01 standard) or a PTFE membrane filter candle for the removal of magnetic particles.

What is filtration?

Filtration is a physical separation process that involves separating solid particles from a fluid, which can be either a liquid or a gas. This is achieved by passing the fluid through a filter medium that retains the solid particles while allowing the fluid to pass through. The filter medium has a complex structure designed to trap particles, ensuring that the filtered fluid is clean and pure. Filtration is a critical process in various industries, including culinary steam, where it ensures the production of high-quality, contaminant-free products.

Filter media for culinary steam

Filter media for culinary steam are specifically designed to remove solid particles and contaminants, ensuring the steam is clean and pure. Common filter media used in these applications include thin barriers like filter paper, filter screens, and laboratory filter paper. These media have small openings that allow water molecules to pass through while retaining solid particles. In some cases, thicker filter media such as sand beds or coke beds are employed to capture larger particles, providing an additional layer of filtration.

Filter equipment for culinary steam

Filter equipment for culinary steam is engineered to hold the filter medium and contain the steam to be filtered. This equipment can include a filter funnel, filter housing, or filter vessel, each designed to facilitate the filtration process. The equipment applies a driving force, such as a pressure difference or gravitational force, to move the steam through the filter medium. In some instances, a partial vacuum is applied below the filter medium to enhance the filtration rate, ensuring efficient and effective removal of contaminants.

Benefits of using a filter in culinary steam

Using a filter in culinary steam applications offers several significant benefits:

• Producing clean and pure steam free from solid particles and contaminants.
• Enhancing the taste and texture of food cooked with steam.
• Reducing the risk of contamination and foodborne illnesses.
• Increasing the efficiency of the culinary steam process.
• Lowering maintenance and cleaning costs by removing solid particles and contaminants from the steam.

By incorporating filters into culinary steam processes, businesses can ensure higher quality and safer food products, while also improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.