Application overview: Steam Gauge ELS

Dairy, Brewery, Food & Beverage

Hygienic Advantages of the ELS Steam Gauge vs. Traditional Syphon Gauges

In hygienic processing environments where steam is used for sterilization, heating, or cleaning, accurate pressure measurement is essential. Historically, this has been achieved using standard mechanical pressure gauges paired with external syphons.
While effective in many industrial settings, these legacy solutions introduce hygiene and maintenance challenges. The ELS Steam Gauge offers a next-generation alternative, built on the proven EL platform, which has been a gold standard in hygienic gauge design for decades. It is designed for precision, cleanliness, safety, and longevity. This document outlines the operational, hygienic, and performance advantages of the ELS over conventional steam gauge assemblies and explains how its design directly addresses the limitations of traditional industrial steam gauges with syphons.

Application Brochure:

English

Customer

Typical Applications Include:

» Direct Steam Injection: Used in dairy and beverage processing to rapidly heat product; requires stable and accurate pressure control.
» Steam-in-Place (SIP) Sterilization: Essential for aseptic and sanitary systems, requiring precise pressure monitoring at high temperatures.
» Humidification in Controlled Environments: Supports proofing rooms and fermentation chambers, where consistent humidity levels must be maintained.
» Surface Sterilization: Ensures clean contact surfaces by sanitizing conveyors, nozzles, and equipment zones, such as steam tunnels.
» Steam Peeling: Common in vegetable and fruit processing, where steam is used to efficiently remove skins from potatoes, tomatoes, and similar products.

Application Detail

Steam plays a vital role in hygienic processes across the food, beverage, and life sciences industries. It is used for sterilization, thermal treatment, cleaning, and humidification. Accurate steam pressure measurement is essential to ensure process integrity, product safety, and regulatory compliance. However, many of the most common applications present challenges that traditional gauge-and-syphon systems are poorly equipped to handle. These processes often occur in systems with high temperatures (up to 400 °F / 205 °C), rapid thermal cycling, and CIP/SIP requirements. Traditional industrial steam gauges with syphons introduce contamination risks, cleaning challenges, and inconsistent measurements due to thermal lag and dead-leg designs. The ELS Steam Gauge addresses these shortcomings with a fully hygienic, compact, and accurate solution.

Traditional Industrial Steam Gauges with Syphons: Limitations in Hygienic Environments

A traditional industrial steam gauge relies on an external syphon loop filled with water to isolate the gauge from extreme steam temperatures. While this method protects the gauge
mechanism, it introduces several drawbacks:

» Dead legs and condensate traps increase risk of contamination
» Non-hygienic materials (e.g., carbon steel, brass) may contact clean steam
» Manual cleaning and maintenance are difficult and labor-intensive
» Extended gauge assemblies are bulky, complicating installation in tight or sensitive areas
» Inconsistent measurement response due to thermal lag from the syphon fluid

These issues make conventional gauges poorly suited for hygienic applications where precision, cleanability, and safety are non-negotiable.

The ELS Steam Gauge: Purpose-Built for Hygienic Performance

The ELS Steam Gauge is engineered specifically for hygienic steam applications and is built upon Anderson-Negele’s trusted EL platform. It features a compact, integrated design with no external syphon and a diaphragm-based thermal barrier that isolates internal mechanisms from direct heat exposure.

Key Advantages

Hygienic Design
The ELS eliminates dead legs by removing the syphon loop entirely. All process-wetted components are made from 316L stainless steel with polished surfaces (Ra ≤ 0.8 μm), ensuring full CIP/SIP compatibility. The design is 3-A compliant and features a hygienic diaphragm that prevents process media from contacting gauge internals.
Superior Accuracy
With no fluid-filled syphon loop to distort or dampen pressure readings, the ELS delivers highly stable and precise measurements, even during thermal cycling or pressure surges.
Compact Footprint
The integrated design offers a height of less than 8 inches, enabling easy installation in tight spaces or directly on equipment ports. Ideal for retrofits and OEM integration.
Operator Safety
By enclosing the thermal fluid path within a structural member, the ELS reduces surface temperatures and protects operators from potential burns during operation or maintenance.
Long-Term Reliability
The sealed diaphragm design, welded construction, and overpressure protection ensure extended gauge life with minimal maintenance and consistent performance over time.

Cost Consideration vs. Lifecycle Value

While the upfront cost of the ELS gauge is higher than that of a basic syphon gauge assembly, its long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. Beyond reduced maintenance and improved reliability, the ELS minimizes the risk of costly product loss or recalls due to contamination introduced by non-hygienic syphon components.

System Comparison

Products Used

ELS Steam Pressure Gauge (90mm)

Pressure Sensors

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