Posted On September 2, 2025

Glossary

m³/hr

• Cubic Meter Per Hour (m³/hr) is a unit of measurement for volume flow

°F

• Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) is a unit of measurement for temperature

°C

• Degrees Celsius (°C) is a unit of measurement for temperature

3-Way Valve

• Manual valve for steam or an ambient water source that are adjusted to hit a certain temperature

3-A

• Sanitary standards that must be adhered to for safety in food and beverage processes

Acid Baths

• Used to remove imperfections and prepare metal surfaces for further processing or finishing, often involving etching or cleaning

Anaerobic Digestion

• Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material without oxygen
• The liquid waste is agitated and circulated to maintain a uniform temperature, and the process is temperature sensitive

ASME

• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) sets standards for designing, building, operating, and maintaining mechanical systems across various industries

ATTEC

• Applied Thermal Technologies (ATT) Custom-built, direct steam injection skid system designed for precise heating applications
• Each system is engineered to specific process needs, incorporating a Hydroheater® that ensures rapid and efficient heat transfer without hammering or fouling

Attenuation System

• A method of storing and releasing excess rainwater at a controlled rate to prevent flooding and reduce strain on drainage systems

Barg

• Barg is a unit of measurement for gauge pressure

Bio-Deactivation

• The process of destroying or inactivating microorganisms and biological waste to ensure safe discharge to the sewer or environment

Biofilms

• A community of microorganisms attached to an inert or living surface by a self-produced polymeric matrix or an assemblage of microbial cells associated with a surface and enclosed in a matrix of primarily polysaccharide material

Biofuel

Renewable energy resources derived from biomass (plant and animal matter) and can be used as liquid fuels for transportation, electricity generation, and heating

Biogas

• Renewable energy source produced by the anaerobic digestion

Biosolids

• Solid organic matter recovered from a sewage treatment process and used as fertilizer

Black Liquor

• Black Liquor is the by-product of the kraft pulping process when digesting pulpwood into paper pulp removing lignin, hemicelluloses, and other extractives from the wood to free the cellulose fibers

Boiler

• Heating system that heats water or steam, which is then circulated to heat a building or provide hot water

Burn-On/Bake-On

• When wall temperatures of a pipe are hot and fluid velocity is low, burning the product on to the sides of the piping

Catalytic Reactions

• A reaction that is made thermodynamically possible by a catalyst

Cavitation

• The formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in a liquid, often occurring in areas of low pressure, which can lead to damage to surfaces and equipment

CE

• Conformité Européenne (CE) certification is a regulatory standard that verifies certain products are safe for sale and use in the European Economic Area (EEA)

Check Valve

• A mechanical device that allows fluid (liquid or gas) to flow in only one direction, preventing backflow

Choked Steam Flow

• A phenomenon where the mass flow rate of steam through a nozzle reaches a maximum, and further decreasing the downstream pressure doesn’t increase the flow rate, as the steam’s velocity reaches the speed of sound (sonic velocity)

Clean-in-Place (CIP)

• Automated cleaning methods that clean the interior surfaces of pipes, tanks, and other process equipment without disassembly, using chemicals, heat, and water to remove residues

Coagulation

• The action or process of a liquid changing to a solid or semi-solid state

Cold Spots

• Portions of the heating system/piping that are underheated

Combining Tube

• Tube inside Hydro-Thermal’s heaters that combines hot steam and the process fluid, resulting in heated process fluid exiting the heater

Condensate Return System

• Collects and returns hot condensate from steam processes back to the feedwater tank

Condensate Trap

• Component of a heating system that removes liquid water out of the steam

Configurable Area

• The area on the heater that can be adjusted for factors such as nozzle size or diffuser holes, which sets the upper and lower limits for process conditions

CRN

• A Canadian Registration Number (CRN) is a number issued by each province or territory in Canada by an authorized safety authority for any boiler, pressure vessel, or fitting that operates at a pressure greater than 15 PSIG (1 Barg)

Culinary Steam

• Saturated steam that is suitable for direct injection into food or direct contact with food or food contact surfaces

Dairy Separation

• The process of separating milk into cream and skimmed milk

Diffuser

• Device that converts the kinetic energy of a fluid into potential energy (static pressure) by slowing down the flow in an expanding duct

Direct Steam Injection (DSI)

• DSI works by directly injecting steam into a process fluid to obtain rapid heat transfer

Direct Heating (Terminology)

• Adding steam directly to the process fluid to create precisely heated process fluid

Distillation

• The process of separating the components of a liquid mixture through selective evaporation and condensation

Drip Leg

• A section of piping designed to collect sediment and condensation in gas or steam lines, preventing them from entering the system and potentially damaging appliances

EHEDG

• The European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) is a association of food producers, equipment manufacturers, institutes and universities to enhance food safety and quality across the whole industry

Emulsion

• A mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible, or unmixable

Emulsification

• Emulsification is the process of mixing two or more immiscible liquids, like oil and water, to form a stable mixture, often with the help of an emulsifier, a substance that reduces the surface tension between the liquids

Energy Efficiency

• Efficient energy use while heating

Enteral Nutrition

• Also known as tube feeding, enteral nutrition is a method of providing nutritional support by delivering nutrients directly into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract through a tube

Enzyme Deactivation

• The process where an enzyme loses its ability to catalyze a reaction, often due to changes in temperature, pH, or the presence of certain chemicals

Enzyme Usage

• The required enzyme dosing to achieve the desired reaction in the heating process

External Modulation

• External modulation uses a steam control valve on the supply line to vary the pressure of the steam at the point of injection, varying the pressure changes the steam density and velocity through the nozzle to control the amount of heating

FDA

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food, beverage, and other processes, ensuring safety in sanitary productions

Fermentation

• Fermentation is an anaerobic (oxygen-free) metabolic process where microorganisms, such as yeasts and bacteria, break down carbohydrates into simpler organic compounds such as alcohols and gases

Fibrous

• Composed of or resembling fibers

Flange

• Connection type that is bolted

Flash Pasteurization

• Heat Treatment process that rapidly heats dairy to a high temperature for a short period of time to kill harmful microorganisms, then quickly cools them, preserving flavor, color, and nutrients while extending shelf life

Flocculation

• A process where small particles in a liquid clump together to form larger clusters, or “flocs,” often facilitated by the addition of chemicals called flocculants

Flow Turndown

• The ratio of the maximum flow capacity to minimum flow capacity, indicating the range of flow it can accurately measure

Foodborne Illnesses

• Infections or diseases caused by consuming contaminated food or beverages

Fouling

• A large buildup of deposits on piping and heat transfer surfaces, significantly reducing efficiency, failing to reach the necessary heat transfer, and potentially leading to corrosion and damage

Gas Absorption

• A process where a gas mixture is brought into contact with a liquid to dissolve one or more components, effectively separating them from the gas stream

Gas Scrubbing

• A process that removes harmful gases or vapors from industrial emissions or other gas streams

Gas Solubility

• The ability of a gas to dissolve in a liquid

Gelatinization

• The process where starch granules, when heated in water, absorb the liquid, swell, and eventually burst, resulting in a thickened, gel-like texture

GMP

• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) a system that ensures manufactured products, like pharmaceuticals and food, are consistently produced and controlled according to established quality standards

GPM

• Gallons Per Minute (GPM) measures how many gallons a pump can move per minute

Green Liquor

• Green Liquor is the by-product of the kraft pulping process, consisting of dissolved smelt of sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, and other compounds

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat, acting like the glass walls of a greenhouse

Hammering and Vibration

• Violent shaking and vibrating of a heating system

Hard Water

• Water with high levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium

Heat Exchanger

• Heating system that transfers heat from one process fluid to another through a barrier

Hot Spots

• Portions of the heating system/piping that are overheated

Indirect Heating (Terminology)

• Any heating process that does not allow direct mixing of steam and fluid

Ingredient Water

• Water in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical production that is added to products in specific volumes and at precise temperatures

Internal Modulation

• Internal Modulation controls the injection area to regulate the amount of heating and an internally modulated heater operates at higher steam velocities compared to external modulation
• This higher velocity produces improved, often rapid mixing and nearly instantaneous condensation of the steam into the process fluid

ISO

• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent organization that standardizes processes, to ensure safety and security within manufacturing

Jetcooker™

• A Jetcooker is a direct steam injection heater that heats process fluids to a precise temperature with steam

Latent Energy

• The energy released or absorbed during a change of a substance’s physical state without a change in temperature

Liquefaction

• A process that occurs when saturated soil loses strength and behaves like a liquid

Liquid Turndown

• The ratio of the maximum flow capacity to minimum flow capacity, indicating the range of flow it can accurately measure

Mesophilic Digestion

• Mesophilic digestion is an anaerobic digestion process that operates at moderate temperatures (typically 30-38°C or 86-100°F) and is widely used for treating organic waste and producing biogas
• 35–40°C (95–104°F) for mesophilic digestion

Metallurgies

• Metal Content makeup of the product

Microbial Activity

• The wide range of actions carried out by microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and other microbes, that cause chemical and biological changes in environments

Microbial Deactivation

• A process that renders microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc…) unable to reproduce or otherwise cause harm through techniques like heat, radiation, or chemicals

Microbial Contamination

• The presence of harmful microorganisms in food, water, or other substances that can cause illness or infection

Microbicide Dispersants

• Substances, often polymers, that are used to prevent the settling or clumping of microorganisms in various applications, ensuring the effective functioning of the microbicide

Microorganisms

• An organism that can be seen only through a microscope, including bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi

Microbial Balance

• The healthy equilibrium between different types of microorganisms

Mixing Ts

• Mixing Ts combine separate streams of steam and cold water to produce heated water

Mixing Turbulence

• Rapid combination of fluids and substances driven by the chaotic, swirling motion of turbulent flow

Nozzle

• A device that controls the characteristics of a fluid flow, such as its velocity, direction, or shape

NPT

• National Pipe Thread (NPT) – Refers to a connection type that is threaded

Particulates

• Microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air

Pasteurization

• Heat treatment process that eliminates harmful bacteria and extends the shelf life of dairy products while preserving their flavor and nutritional value

Pathogens

• Microorganisms or other biological agents that can cause disease in a host organism

Pathogen Deactivation

• Heat treatment process that kills harmful pathogens, however, the deactivated pathogens are not removed from the product

PED

• The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) is a European Union directive that sets out the essential safety requirements for the design, manufacturing, and conformity assessment of stationary pressure equipment

Peripheral Piping

• A flowline that transfers fluids

PLC

• Programmable Logic Controller

Plate and Frame Heat Exchanger

• Plate and frame heat exchangers transfer heat process fluids through several heat transfer plates

Plugging

• Blockage in piping that stops the flow of process fluids

Process Fluid

• Any liquid, slurry, or sludge that is being heated with direct or indirect heating

PSIG

• Pounds per Square Inch Gauge (PSIG) is a unit of measurement for gauge pressure

Pulp Digestion

• Chemically or mechanically breaking down plant fibers, primarily wood, to produce pulp, the raw material for paper and other products

Recirc Heating

• Also referred to as a hot water recirculation system, recirc heating circulates hot water though a heater and piping to provide instant hot water whenever you may need it

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

• A renewable fuel made from biogas that has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas

Saccharification

• The process of breaking a complex carbohydrate (as starch) into simple sugars

Sanitizer Activation

• The process of dispensing and applying a sanitizer solution to a surface or hands to kill or reduce the number of microorganisms

Scaling

• A buildup of solidified minerals and impurities, primarily caused by hard water, on piping and heat transfer surfaces, reducing efficiency and potentially leading to corrosion and damage

Sensible Energy

• Kinetic energy of molecules within a substance that causes its temperature to change

Set Point

• The desired or target value of a controlled variable that a system aims to maintain, such as temperature, pressure, or flow rate

Shear

• The force per unit area that acts parallel to a surface within a fluid, causing the fluid to deform or slide

Shell-in-Tube Heat Exchanger

• Shell and tube heat exchangers transfer heat between process fluids using a series of heat tubes surrounded by an outer shell

Solenoid-Operated Valve

• A type of valve that uses an electromagnet to control the flow of fluids or gases by opening or closing based on an electrical signal, allowing for remote or automated control

• Using solvents to dissolve, suspend, or extract substances, often for separation or purification, and it’s used in various industries like oilseed processing, hazardous waste treatment, and refining

Sonic Velocity

• Traveling at the speed of sound

Skid/Skid System

• Custom or pre-engineered heating system that contains a heater and process piping that can be directly connected into a facility

Sludge

• Mixture of thick, mostly solid material in wastewater

Slurry

• Mixture of thin, mostly liquid material in wastewater

Sparger

• Heating system that directs the steam through a steam sparging nozzle located in the process fluid pipe, which allows steam to enter the process fluid

Sparge Tube

• A perforated pipe used to inject steam directly into a liquid

Starch Hydrolysis

• The breakdown of starch into smaller sugar molecules (like glucose and maltose) through the addition of water

Steam Chamber

• A chamber where steam is generated or contained to transfer heat to a fluid

Steam Flow

• Steam flow is the movement of steam (water vapor) from one place to another, usually through pipes over a period of time, due to pressure or temperature differences

Steam Hammer

• A heating system violently shaking, caused by uncontrolled steam condensation

Steam Pressure

• The force that steam pushes with inside a closed space, like a pipe or boiler, due to steam trying to expand and takes up more space

Steam Sparging

• The process of bubbling steam directly into a liquid to heat or mix it, allowing the steam to transfer its heat to the liquid as it condenses

Stem Plug

• A device used to block or shut off the flow of steam in a pipe or system, stopping steam from moving into certain areas, usually for safety, maintenance, or system control

Sterilize-in-Place (SIP)

• A process used to sterilize process equipment like tanks, pipelines, and bioreactors in industries like pharmaceutical and biotechnology without disassembly, using saturated steam to kill microorganisms

Sugar Degradation

• The process of heating sugar to break it down into simpler compounds, like carbon and water

Tank Heating

• The heating, or recirculation, of liquids inside tanks

Thermal Efficiency

• Efficient transfer of heat, with minimal heat loss while heating a process fluid

Thermal Shock

• A rapid temperature change causing stress in materials, potentially causing damage in the surrounding area

Thermophilic Digestion

• Processes organic waste at higher temperatures to enhance biogas production and pathogen destruction
• 50–60°C (122–140°F) for thermophilic digestion

Throughput

• The amount of material passing through a system or process

Trim Heating

• Recirculation tank heating method to keep the tank warm after the tank is already up to temperature, maintaining the specified set point

Turndown Ratio

• The ratio of the maximum capacity to minimum capacity, indicating the range of flow it can accurately measure

Uncondensed Steam

• Steam that hasn’t transitioned back into liquid water, either because it hasn’t been cooled enough or because it’s being used in a process where it’s not meant to condense

Variable Exposed Area Nozzle/Diffuser

• Adjusts the exposed area and exposes more diffuser holes by sliding the stem plug in and out of the nozzle

Velocity

• The speed at which steam moves through a pipe or into a liquid, affecting how quickly the steam heats or mixes with the liquid

Viscosity

• A measure of thickness that causes resistance to flow

Water-For-Injection (WFI) Systems

• Systems that produce ultra-pure water suitable for diluting medications and other injectable solutions, ensuring sterility and purity

White Liquor

• White Liquor used in the Kraft process, a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium sulfide (Na2S) used to break down wood into pulp