Energy consumption is often the biggest factor influencing the total lifecycle costs of a homogenizer. And the biggest factor influencing energy consumption is homogenization pressure.
In other words, a homogenizer that runs at 250 bar will have higher energy needs than a homogenizer running at 180 bar. With higher pressure demands, more power is needed to drive the pistons that pressurize the product and push it through the gap of the homogenization device. In a continuous production environment where the homogenizer is running all day, the costs of that additional energy can quickly add up.
For most businesses, energy demands are also no longer just a cost consideration. With sustainability managers looking for new ways to make plants more energy efficient, and thereby lower the overall carbon footprint of a line, the power requirements for individual pieces of equipment are increasingly under scrutiny.
It is therefore important to get homogenization pressure just right. Many plants assume they need more pressure than is actually required to achieve the right level of homogenization. In some cases, it can be possible to limit pressure – and thereby energy consumption – and still reduce particles and fat globules down to the desired size.
