Glossary · Batch and process operations
Clean-in-place (CIP)
Also known as: CIP, Cleaning in place
German: Cleaning in Place (CIP)
In process plants, clean-in-place (CIP) is the automated cleaning of the interior surfaces of tanks, pipes and process equipment without disassembly, by circulating rinse water and cleaning solutions under controlled time, temperature, concentration and flow.
- Batch control
- Process industry
In one sentence
Clean-in-place (CIP) cleans tanks, pipes and process equipment without disassembly by circulating cleaning solutions under controlled conditions.
Example
After each product changeover, the dairy runs a CIP program: pre-rinse, hot caustic wash, intermediate rinse, acid wash and final rinse.
How it applies
- Engineering: CIP systems consist of tanks, pumps, valves, heat exchangers and sensors for conductivity, temperature and flow. The control system runs cleaning programs, often structured like batch recipes.
- Operation: CIP cycles are scheduled between batches. Interlocks prevent cleaning solution from reaching product lines that are in production.
- Compliance: In food and pharmaceutical plants, cleaning parameters are recorded as evidence; cleaning procedures are validated.
- Documentation: Manuals describe the programs, their parameters and limits, the chemicals used, protective equipment for handling them and what to do if a cycle is aborted. Hazards from hot caustic and acid solutions must be covered in the safety information.
Clean-in-place vs. sterilize-in-place
CIP removes residues. Sterilize-in-place (SIP), typically with steam, kills microorganisms and usually follows CIP. The two are different steps with different parameters and should not be merged in procedures.