I. Pretreatment and Draining
1. Equipment Shutdown and Draining
Turn off the power and feed valves, draining any residual starch milk and rinse water from the separator to prevent fermentation and spoilage.
Remove removable components (such as the filter and cyclone tube) and handle stubborn lumps separately.
2. Physical Cleaning
Use compressed air (0.4-0.6 MPa) to backflush the screen, holding the nozzle at a 45° angle 15-20 cm from the screen, to remove 85% of surface residue.
Scrub stubborn starch lumps with a food-grade nylon brush and alkaline detergent (pH 8.5-9.0) to avoid metal corrosion.
II. Chemical Disinfection and Deep Cleaning
1. Disinfection
Soak in a peracetic acid solution (150-200 ppm) for 20 minutes to kill mold. Rinse with purified water until the conductivity is <50 μS/cm. For stainless steel components, pay attention to their chloride ion tolerance. 316L material can withstand higher concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (500ppm).
2. Internal Flushing
Use a high-pressure water jet (medium or low pressure) to flush the inner walls and pipes of the separation chamber, focusing on areas such as the oil sump and the angle between the guide plates.
The cyclone should be disassembled and cleaned, and the cyclone tubes inspected for wear. The wear cycle is typically 6-12 months.
3. Special Component Maintenance
Filter Treatment: Soak in hot water to soften the grease, then gently brush the mesh to ensure water permeability. Damaged filters should be replaced promptly.
Seal Inspection: Replace worn gaskets and apply silicone grease to prevent leaks.
4. Post-Cleaning Verification
Run the equipment under no-load conditions to confirm there are no abnormal noises or vibrations.
Before the first batch of feed, circulate clean water through the system to prevent residue from contaminating the starch.
The above steps ensure thorough cleaning of the starch separator, extending its life and ensuring separation performance.
