News
Water Retort
The Water Retort is one of the food processing equipment designed and fabricated to substitute imported equipment. Its use can help improve the performance and productivity of the country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in food processing.
The Water Retort is:
• Manually-operated
• A batch-type, non-agitating pressure cooking vessel used to thermally process food packed in sealed containers such as metal can, glass bottles, retortable pouches/plastics.
• Modular. Its set-up allows easy transport to where it may serve its purpose.
Features of the Water Retort:
• A high-pressure LPG burner underneath the vessel heats water, thereby using a mixture of water and steam as heating medium for thermal processing.
• It is capable of withstanding extreme pressures. Counter-pressure is applied so as to prevent containers from rupturing or bursting.
Benefits/Advantages:
• Its use results in savings due to: reduced process time; less storage space needed; lower cost of utilities; and lesser transportation costs.
Food processing with the Water Retort provides an opportunity for MSMEs to shift to the use of retort pouch, which comes along with other added benefits.
Advantages of using retort pouches:
• They conform to regulations for thermally processed food.
• They are convenient for consumers.
• They are light-weight and easy to open.
• They come with better package presentation.
• There are available local expertise and technical support.
The "Design and Development of Process Equipment for Food Processing Firm" is a project implemented by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) in cooperation with the Project Management Engineering Design Service Office (PMEDSO) and the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) in support of the High Impact Technology Solutions (HITS) Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Technical Specifications:
Orientation: Vertical
Operating Temperature: 120C to 140C
Compressed air supply during cooling (Counter pressure): 40psi
Heat source: LPG
Design Volume: 120 liters
Working volume: 100 liters
Capacity: 200 cans of sardines (18 cases); 60-pint jars; 288 pieces of suman sa lihiya per batch
Dimensions: 18" inside diameter; 34" length
Source: https://news.oneexpert.gov.ph/article/dost-technologies-water-retort/