GEA Smart Filtration

Based on filtration times or a fixed number of clean-in-place (CIP) cycles, most preventive maintenance plans involve the regular replacement of membranes. However, if the filtration process is not properly controlled within tight tolerances, membranes with a wide pore size may deliver suboptimal separation performance. Furthermore, the high throughput rates used in crossflow feeds can damage shear-sensitive materials.

Additional issues arise when the filtration process causes membrane fouling, resulting in a decrease in permeate flux. This then makes expensive cleaning and regeneration schemes for secondary waste necessary. Integrating all the inherent technical parameters — process and mechanical design, hygiene criteria and organic raw materials used — into a root cause analysis regime may offer a solution.

By monitoring the status of membrane filtration systems in real-time, GEA Smart Filtration helps you to visualize your equipment condition, data and system KPIs on a digital dashboard that provides the following benefits:

• extended membrane performance 
• less downtime and production loss 
• cost, production and resource savings 
• maximized productivity with increased product yield
• dashboard overview. 

The GEA Smart Filtration application uses a safe IIoT platform that allows operators to own, collect and validate system data in real-time. The main dashboard “Overview” visualizes the acquired data in a number of different ways. 

Some is displayed as an event list, such as “Production” or “CIP,” whereas other information is shown as being in process, such as flow rates, analog values, pressure inlet, outlet and difference, set-points, actual values and production amounts, for example.

From the event list, it’s possible to access further analytics, including a process summary, run time, resource consumption and the current status of the procedure. For you, the customer, it provides complete transparency into your operation and allows you to assess key criteria such as process time, production amount, flow rate, water/detergent/power use and estimated carbon footprint, etc., in terms of costs and efficiencies.

Should further assistance be required, GEA experts are available at any time to answer your questions and/or provide guidance. Equipped with the data from your process, we can assist with operational insight and help you to optimize your system set-up, provide a strategic membrane replacement plan and a preventive maintenance service strategy. 

We’ll work together to develop GEA Smart Filtration to meet your specific needs, optimize your process and maximize your experience. At GEA, we’re here to help you improve your productivity, decrease your operational costs and ensure food safety.