Optimal design of continuous sterilization processes with plate heat exchangers

An optimization procedure is presented for configuration design of the plate heat exchanger sections of a plate pasteurizer subject to constraints on the equipment performance and operational limitations. The process mathematical model is presented for evaluating the unit thermo-hydraulic performance. Moreover, the extent of thermal processing inside the exchanger is determined. Both pasteurization costs and product thermal degradation are minimized using a structured search procedure that overcomes the limitations of representing the problem as a MINLP model. All example is presented for the design of a beer pasteurization unit.