Usage Of Centrifugal Fans in Industrial Food Processing
                     Usage Of Centrifugal Fans in Industrial 
Food Processing
Neel Rao
Writes on Reitz India Induced draft fan & 
Industrial centrifugal fan manufacturers in India 
The term ‘food processing equipment’ encompasses a broad range of components 
and machines used in food processing factories. This equipment is used for a variety 
of functions. In the food processing industry, centrifugal fans are extensively used at 
various stages of the production process.
The production cycle of food can be segmented into several stages. These include 
preparing the food, mechanical processing, preserving the food, and packaging the 
same.
Preparation
Firstly, the food has to be made ready for further processing. In the production unit, 
various operations are performed. These include washing the food, drying and 
dehydrating the same, before segregating the food. During the preparation stage, 
industrial fans help in cleaning and drying the fruits and vegetables. Particularly, 
centrifugal fans are used to create air movement under high pressure during the 
process of dehydration.
Mechanical Processing
At this stage, various mechanical operations are carried out to change the form of 
the material. Besides, the products have to be enlarged or reduced in size. At times, 
they are homogenized. Various equipment finds their incorporation at this stage, like 
mixers, emulsifiers and crushers. During this stage, several food processing units 
deploy blowers and industrial fans to filter the air. The food, therefore, remains clean 
and hygienic. Equipment used in dust collection includes backward inclined or radial 
tipped fans. This helps in keeping the processing environment clean.
Heat Processing
Equipment for heat transfer is used to direct the heat towards the material, or away 
from it. During this stage, several unit operations are employed. These include 
baking, roasting, frying and blanching. Dryers, blanchers, condensers, heat 
exchangers and baking ovens are used at this stage. Industrial fans are used to 
extract fumes during the heat processing stage. These fans are applied over the 
furnaces or ovens directly when the food processing takes place. Particularly, you 
will come across this kind of application in kitchens in ships and food preparation 
units.
Preservation
In order to preserve the processed food, the operational units have several types of 
equipment. Industrial fans are useful during this stage of the production process as 
well. Although most of the process is carried out in freezers and chillers, fans are 
used in the initial processes. For instance, the cooked food needs to be cooled. 
Besides, they are used in refrigeration plants for vacuum food storage. Further in this 
area of the factory, the levels of humidity and temperature have to be maintained, 
so that the cold storage process can be optimized.
Packaging
The food is packaged in various forms like bottles, jars, cans and boxes. The 
equipment varies, depending on how the food would be packaged. At this stage of 
the production process, centrifugal fans are used extensively to distribute air in a 
uniform manner, so that these products get cooled down evenly, maintaining a 
stable humidity and temperature. Before the products are dispatched to the packing 
section, they are placed on the conveyer belt in lines to cool down.
As can be seen clearly the industrial centrifugal fans come handy in almost all the 
stages of the food processing process.
About REITZINDIA
Reitz India has set a benchmark to deliver high quality fans for heavy duty industries 
which can work at precise operating conditions like high temperatures and pressures. 
Reitz offer idealistic Centrifugal Fan and Centrifugal blower design that can be used in 
all large scale process industries like cement, iron & steel, power plants, fertilizers/ 
chemicals and more.
Thank you for spending your precious time in reading this article!