While a pressure gauge may not be the first component people think of in a sanitary processing system, it is essential for quality control, safety, and effective processing through the system.
When pressures are not accurately maintained, changes in the texture, flavor and the consistency of the liquids, slurries, and semi-solids in the system change, resulting in inconsistent products, increased waste and problems for the producer in marketing and branding.
Choosing the right sanitary pressure gauge to allow for optimal control over the pressure in the system is a simple way to avoid these issues. Spending a bit more to get a gauge that meets the needs of the production system is money well spent.
Accuracy of the Gauge
The sanitary pressure gauge must be accurate. A gauge that is not reliable or that is off in the readings and data provided is a problem for production quality consistency.
Choose a model and a manufacturer with a solid performance reputation in the sanitary processing industry. When in doubt, talk your distributor and ask for recommendations based on the specific application parameters and the accuracy of the gauge. Keep in mind, using the gauge outside of the recommended parameters, including temperature and pressure, increases the risk of inaccurate readings.
Readability
For a sanitary pressure gauge to be easy to use, the readout has to be easy to see. Some pressure gauges use an analog type of display, which is ideal when the gauge is in an easy to access location.
LED displays and the ability to transmit data to automated control systems may or may not be required for any given application. These gauges are more costly, but they offer benefits, the traditional analog types of displays cannot provide.
The connection of the gauge to the system is another consideration. Different gauges of different connection options from step mounts to wall and surface mounts or even the option for panel mounting. All of these options are effective, with some more practical for different locations than others.
