Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17 § 12755

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 25, June 21, 2024

Section 12755 - Venting of Retorts for Removal of Air, General Considerations

(a) Vents (except drains when used as vents) shall be in the opposite side or end of the retort from that at which the steam is admitted.

(b) Vent valves shall be of the gate or plug cock type, preferably quick acting, except where otherwise specified.

NOTE: A globe valve of one pipe size larger than the minimum vent requirement may be substituted for a gate valve.

(c) for the most efficient operation of a retort, cans shall be so stacked, and the stacking equipment shall be of a type such that the air can be removed rapidly enough to permit a uniform distribution of heat throughout the retort at the time processing temperature is attained. Anything which interferes with the free flow of steam through any part of a retort load makes this requirement more difficult to meet.

NOTE: Use of the drain as a vent in conjunction with venting from the top of the retort is permissible and several combinations of top and bottom vents are described. However, it is more desirable to use venting systems which do not involve the use of the drain.

Various arrangements of vents may be used to obtain uniform heat distribution throughout a retort. The following vent arrangements and cycles of operation have been found to give satisfactory heat distribution. Every retort shall be equipped with one of these installations or some other arrangement of vents which is equally satisfactory. If venting systems other than those described here are desired, or if shorter coming-up times are to be used, the approval of the Department of Public Health shall first be obtained. A special investigation may be required in order to determine the conditions under which such equipment may be used.

If equipment now in use approximates, but does not exactly conform to one of the prescribed venting systems, the Department of Public Health should be consulted before any expensive change of equipment is undertaken. Full details concerning the present installation should be furnished to the department.

Conditions such as boiler capacity and size of steam inlets vary in different plants and modifications of the venting procedure may be necessary in some instances to permit reaching the temperature specified within the recommended time. When this seems necessary, an investigation will be made by the Department of Public Health and modifications of the equipment or venting procedure will be suggested in accordance with conditions found. When a change in procedure is suggested, this new procedure will then become the approved method of venting the retorts in question at that plant.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 12755