Control the thermal history from the crusher onward
The heated surface and product circuit must accept the crushed feed without excessive pressure loss or plugging. Product flow, inlet temperature and heating service together determine whether the stream reaches the required condition. A temperature setpoint alone does not describe the process.
Break treatment affects pectin-related consistency and the behavior of the later concentrate. The time between crushing and heating is part of that thermal history. Keep the crusher transfer, pump control and preheater response connected in the operating sequence.
Set the preheater from the desired refining condition
| Input to selection | Effect on equipment | Verification point |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed particle profile | Product passage and transfer arrangement | Largest accepted particles pass predictably |
| Feed rate and inlet temperature | Heat-transfer duty and control response | Outlet condition remains steady across the agreed range |
| Selected break history | Heating and residence arrangement | Recorded flow and temperature follow the product trial |
| Downstream pulper | Discharge level and feed continuity | No avoidable hold or surge before screening |
A preparation section can be purchased separately
A 2024 multi-material preparation installation in Moldova combined crushing, tubular preheating, single-stage pulping, screw transfer and buffering. Its reported scope prepared apples, tomatoes and pumpkins for later processing. It illustrates how a preheater can be supplied within a defined front-end module.
For a tomato project, choose the number of pulping stages and the subsequent concentration or packaging route separately. Break preheating does not complete the final preservation process.
Keep the tube circuit inspectable and cleanable
Allow access to tube-bank connections, bends, instruments and any removable service components. The cleaning route must reach the product path and return predictably; heating-side circulation is a different circuit.
Agree the temperature measurement locations, flow basis, startup routing and response to a loss of heating service. These details connect the selected break profile to an operating machine rather than a label on the recipe screen.
Further detail
Questions about this equipment and process
Is break treatment the same as final paste sterilization?
No. Break treatment prepares the crushed tomato stream and influences consistency. Final preservation is selected for the product, package and downstream hygienic boundary.
Can the same preheater be selected only from a hot-break temperature?
The required duty also includes feed rate, inlet temperature, particle size, residence arrangement and heating-service conditions. These determine the actual configuration.