Method and installation for the direct heating of a protein-enriched dairy product by introducing water vapor into this dairy product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus 1000 for directly heating DE of a protein-enriched dairy product P by introducing steam D into said dairy product P. The direct heating DE is carried out by IFV infusion or UV injection. The problem addressed by the invention is to create such a method and apparatus for carrying it out that significantly extend the shelf life of the product, either during the process or in the apparatus, and that ensure a higher content of undenatured whey protein in the treated protein-enriched dairy product than that obtained in the prior art.The problem is solved by process engineering means in which: • the dairy product (P) that is preheated and held at temperature is indirectly cooled (K) before direct heating (DE) by a recuperative cooling stage from the preheating temperature (TVE) to a cooling temperature (TK) with a temperature difference (ΔTK) in a range of 5 K to 15 K (ΔTK < (5 to 15) K), • the direct heating (DE) from the cooling temperature (TK) to the pasteurization temperature (THE) is controlled by direct heating setpoint values ​​that are known in advance, and • according to characteristic (d), the dairy product (P) is cooled by flash cooling (K) from the pasteurization temperature (THE) to a required outlet temperature (TA).

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