Mixing & carbonation of soft drinks
GEA DIMIX-C Mixer/Carbonator
The GEA carbonating system type DIMIX-C has been designed for high-precision continuous mixing and carbonation of soft drinks.
The compact GEA DIMIX-C comprises three modules in one solution. These are:
- GEA DIOX-2 water deaerator, to aid optimum deaeration of product water
- GEA DICON® in-line blender for continuous, multi-component in-line blending of finished syrup or beverage
- GEA DICAR-C carbonator, to aid fine dispersion of CO2 in the beverage and help to ensuring a quick, even, and long-lasting CO2 bond
GEA DIOX-2 water deaeration system
Oxygen in beverages impairs product shelf life and taste, so carrying out deaeration of the beverage water has benefits that can result in higher quality products.
Vacuum spray deaeration is first carried out to remove most of the oxygen from the water. The pre-deaerated water is then pumped up to the second stage and mixed with CO2 on its way to the next spray plates. CO2 increases the release of oxygen. The CO2/air mixture is extracted by means of the vacuum pump, which can be equipped with a sealing water cooler to minimize water loss.
The discharge pump then supplies the deaerated water to the blending system.
The water deaerating unit is cleaned through the water pipe and requires less frequent CIP than the other units. The DIOX-2 can be cleaned separately from the rest of the equipment as required.
GEA DICON® in-line blending system
The GEA DICON® in-line blending system is designed for the continuous, accurate blending of liquid components. The flow rates are measured using high-precision flow meters and are regulated using valves with i/p-positioners or by speed-controlled positive displacement pumps.
The digital controller monitors and compares the actual ratio of each component in the product mix with the required ratios and actuates the controlling device to adjust the mix and ensure that preset values are accurately met. Any short-term control deviations are compensated for 100% using our GEA DICON® control algorithms.
A mass flow meter can be configured to determine the brix measurement in the final syrup/premix pipe, and any final syrup/premix brix fluctuations can then automatically be compensated during blending process.
GEA DICAR-C carbonation system
The GEA DICAR-C carbonating system is designed for the continuous, high-accuracy carbonation of beverages. The system comprises a Venturi CO2 saturator and appropriate fittings, carbonating tank, analyzing unit, and, as an option, a cooler.
The system achieves a fine distribution of CO2 gas in the beverage, which helps to ensure rapid saturation and achieves the ideal “fine-sparkling” property that is expected.
The flow velocity in the saturator must be kept in a range, so that the Venturi effect works sufficiently.
CO2 is supplied straight from the pressure tank, the constant overpressure of which guarantees an even carbonation of the beverage.
This procedure enables a lossless use of CO2 in a continuous operation. The quality of the carbonation mainly depends on the product temperature, the residual product oxygen content and the saturating pressure resulting from the temperature and the specific product features. These values are acquired and monitored within the predetermined limits.
GEA tech combination for high-quality mixing and carbonation
The three GEA modules that are combined in the compact, versatile DIMIX-C give you great flexibility, allowing you to generate high-quality products, and potentially achieve cost savings, as well as reduced CO2 losses.
Features of the DIMIX-C mixing and carbonation system
- Efficient water deaeration (≤0.05 mg O2/l) for better taste and longer product shelf-life
- The high-precision DICON® inline blending technology helps to ensure perfect blending results
- Automatic prime and shut-down procedures aid high accuracy and can help to optimize ingredients utilization
- Facility for automatic brix compensation during blending, to control for variance in the final syrup / premix brix at source tank changeover
- Efficient, cost-saving CIP, using the premix stream as a CIP feed, with the DIOX-2 module configured as a mix-proof system that is separated for standalone (seldom) CIP
- System can be used to produce still products, or achieve the highest carbonation value for carbonated products
- No CO2 losses during carbonation as a continuous process
- GEA Venturi saturator enables very fine dispersion of CO2 in the product
- Smart feature for saving water and CIP chemicals
- Recipe management system
- Various options are available on demand
Related Products
Water Deaeration Systems DIOX
GEA has developed the DIOX two-stage deaeration systems for use by the juice and soft drinks industries.
GEA DICON® Continuous Blenders for Beverage
GEA DICON® continuous in-line blending concept for the beverage industry.
DICAR Carbonation Systems
The GEA carbonating system type DICAR-C has been designed for continuous high-accuracy carbonation of non-alcoholic beverages and is mainly applied in the carbonated soft drinks industry.
