The smoke generator is the most important component of any smoking system. Inside the smoke generator the smoking material is heated to burn smoothly. Depending on the smoking method and the products to be smoked, the type of smoke generator can differ.
Smoke generators can be divided into several categories – according to the respective smoking material. A distinction is made between smoke generators for wood chips or sawdust and friction smoke generators. These smoke generator work using solid smoking materials producing smolder smoke. During this process, the smoking material, wood chippings or sawdust, is layered inside smoke generator and brought to smolder using embers. The resulting smoke is then mixed with fresh air from outside. This step promotes the formation of aroma and flavors in the respective food. The mixture of smoke and fresh air is then transferred into the smoking chamber. The mixture circulates inside the smoking chamber due to air circulation and spreads evenly around the respective products. Afterwards, the fresh air is discharged as residual smoke via the pipe system. Using state-of-the-art process controls, the intensity of the smoke content can be adapted to the respective product.
Another method of smoking represent friction smoke generators. This type of generator does not use wood chips or chippings, but solid squared lumber. The lumber is crushed into very fine sawdust using a friction wheel. The friction generates heat, which then causes the chips to smolder. The pressure of the friction wheel can be individually adjusted to the smoked product, resulting in a very fine and even smoke concentration. This smoking method is particularly suitable for cold smoking chambers. In addition to smoke generators using smolder smoke, steam or liquid smoke generators can also be used,; these generates run using steam or a highly concentrated liquid smoke extract.
Since smoke generators are an essential part of any smoke house, they are also subject to strict regulations on food hygiene, fire protection and exhaust air purification. Therefore, the continuous release of residual smoke during the smoking process requires an efficient and high-grade exhaust air purification. The KMA AAIRMAXX® exhaust air purification systems are specifically adapted to the exhaust air requrirements in smoke houses. The combination of electrostatic precipitator and gas scrubber extracts aerosols, fats, tar or oil mists as well as odors, gases and vapors. The KMA AAIRMAXX® combines cost efficiency with eco-efficiency offering industrial smoke houses great potential to reduce costs and to minimize the carbon footprint.