MONITORING APPARATUS

• Main Authors: BURNS, IAN WILLIAM, BAGINSKI, EDWARD, HASTING, ANTHONY PETER MILBURN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 03.02.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

A monitoring apparatus (1) for monitoring soil build-up in a pipe (6) which may form part of a pipework system including a heat exchanger. The pipework system is used in e.g. the heat treatment of milk and milk products. The monitoring apparatus (1) is in thermal connection with the pipe (6) and includes a body (2) capable of being heated by a heater. The power supplied to the heater is controlled and monitored such that a change in power input to the heater is indicative of a change in heat transfer to a fluid (8) flowing through the pipe (6). The heat from the apparatus (1) causes localised soil build-up in a portion of the pipe (6) near to the heated body (2). The soil build-up is representative of the soil build-up in the heat exchanger. The cleaning of the pipe (6) may be based on the soil build-up indicated by the monitoring apparatus (1).