A whey wastewater recycling structure for cheese production

Abstract

This invention discloses a structure for recycling whey wastewater used in cheese production. It includes a multi-stage pretreatment mechanism, an ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism, and a spray-scraper integrated crystallization mechanism connected in sequence. The multi-stage pretreatment mechanism includes a central filter cylinder located at the center of the pretreatment tank, rotatably connected to the pretreatment tank. A drive shaft is constructed at the lower end of the central filter cylinder, and a first drive wheel is mounted on the drive shaft. Multiple vertical filter cylinders are arranged between the pretreatment tank and the central filter cylinder. The central filter cylinder is connected to an adjustable extraction unit. This invention can extract protein and lactose separately and improves the treatment effect, significantly increasing the efficiency of recycling. Simultaneously, it avoids resource waste, reduces wastewater treatment costs, and prevents environmental pollution. Through a comprehensive combination of technologies, it promotes the cheese industry towards the goal of zero emissions. This invention is applicable to the technical field of whey wastewater treatment in cheese production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of cheese production, specifically, it relates to a structure for recycling whey wastewater used in cheese production. Background Technology

[0002] Whey wastewater is a major byproduct of cheese production, rich in lactose, protein, minerals, and organic acids. Direct discharge not only wastes resources but also pollutes the environment. Typically, whey wastewater is collected in a collection tank, flocculants are added, and the wastewater is agitated to cause the aforementioned components to flocculate and precipitate. The resulting purified water is then filtered through an ultrafiltration membrane for reuse, while the precipitate is treated at high temperatures before being discarded or landfilled. However, because whey wastewater contains a large amount of recyclable materials, treating it using the above methods results in significant waste, especially of the substantial amounts of protein and lactose. Protein can be used in nutritional supplements, sports foods, or infant formula, while lactose can be used in pharmaceuticals (excipients) or the food industry. Currently, there is no optimal method for extracting the two substances separately. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a whey wastewater treatment device to extract protein and lactose separately, improve the treatment effect, significantly increase the efficiency of recycling, avoid resource waste, and prevent environmental pollution. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a structure for recycling whey wastewater used in cheese production, which can be used to extract protein and lactose separately and improve the treatment effect, thereby greatly improving the efficiency of recycling. At the same time, it avoids waste of resources, reduces the input cost of wastewater treatment, and prevents pollution to the environment. Furthermore, through a combination of technologies, whey wastewater can be transformed from a "burden" into a "gold mine of resources", thus promoting the cheese industry toward the goal of zero emissions.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A structure for recycling whey wastewater used in cheese production includes a multi-stage pretreatment mechanism, an ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism, and a spray-scraper integrated crystallization mechanism connected in sequence. The multi-stage pretreatment mechanism includes a central filter cylinder coaxially arranged at the center of the pretreatment tank. The lower end of the central filter cylinder is rotatably connected to the lower end of the pretreatment tank. A drive shaft is coaxially constructed at the lower end of the central filter cylinder, and a first drive wheel is mounted on the drive shaft. Multiple vertical filter cylinders are coaxially arranged between the pretreatment tank and the central filter cylinder. An adjustable extraction unit is connected to the upper end of the central filter cylinder.

[0005] Furthermore, the pretreatment tank includes a cylindrical tank body with multiple fixed seats at the lower end, and an inlet unit is installed at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body. The inlet unit includes an annular inlet pipe installed at the inlet weir at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body, and multiple inlet holes are evenly opened along its circumference at the lower part of the annular inlet pipe. An inlet connector is constructed on the annular inlet pipe.

[0006] Furthermore, the adjustable extraction unit includes a guide rail connected to the upper end of the central filter cylinder. The guide rail extends radially from the center of the pretreatment tank to the edge. A track component is installed on the guide rail. The track component is connected to a suction pipe assembly. The suction pipe assembly extends vertically into the pretreatment tank. A lifting drive assembly is assembled between the suction pipe assembly and the track component.

[0007] Furthermore, the suction pipe assembly includes a water suction pipe coaxially disposed inside the sludge suction pipe, a filter cover with its lower end in an open state fixed at the lower end of the sludge suction pipe, a sealing cap elastically connected to the lower end of the filter cover, a sludge discharge connector connected to the upper part of the sludge suction pipe, and an opening and closing assembly assembled between the upper end of the sludge suction pipe and the upper end of the water suction pipe.

[0008] Furthermore, the opening and closing assembly includes a water-blocking sleeve fitted onto the upper part of the pumping pipe, a connecting seat constructed at the lower end of the water-blocking sleeve, the connecting seat being detachably connected to the upper end of the sludge suction pipe, a first adapter seat constructed on the connecting seat, a second adapter seat constructed at the upper end of the pumping pipe, the lower end of a vertical transmission screw being rotatably connected to the first adapter seat, and the upper end of the vertical transmission screw being threadedly connected to the second adapter seat.

[0009] Furthermore, the lifting drive assembly includes a vertical lead screw whose lower end is rotatably connected to the track component. The vertical lead screw is threadedly connected to the suction tube assembly. A power motor is mounted on the track component. A first pulley is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the power motor, and a second pulley is coaxially mounted on the vertical lead screw. The first pulley and the second pulley are connected by a transmission belt.

[0010] Furthermore, the integrated spray-scraping crystallization mechanism includes a heating vessel with a vertical liquid guide pipe coaxially mounted in the center, a steam exhaust connector constructed at the upper end of the heating vessel, the steam exhaust connector being connected to the inlet end of the condenser, a second transmission wheel coaxially mounted at the upper part of the vertical liquid guide pipe, and multiple spray-scraping components connected at the part of the vertical liquid guide pipe extending into the heating vessel.

[0011] Furthermore, the spraying and scraping assembly includes an atomizing spraying element with one end close to the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel and the other end connected to a vertical liquid guide pipe through a connecting pipe. The atomizing spraying element has a liquid distribution chamber connected to the connecting pipe. Multiple atomizing holes are opened on the end face of the atomizing spraying element close to the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel. A scraping element is installed on one side of the atomizing spraying element, and one end of the scraping element is in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel.

[0012] Furthermore, connecting pins are respectively constructed on the upper and lower parts of the end of the atomizing spray component away from the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel. Each connecting pin moves through the connecting lug on the scraper component. A connecting spring is fitted on the outside of the connecting pin, and the two ends of the connecting spring are fixed to the scraper component and the connecting lug, respectively.

[0013] Furthermore, both the atomizing spray component and the scraping component are inclined. When the vertical guide pipe is driven to rotate the spraying and scraping assembly, the atomizing spray component sprays the area to be sprayed on the inner wall of the heating vessel from top to bottom, and the scraping component scrapes the area to be scraped on the inner wall of the heating vessel from top to bottom.

[0014] The present invention, by employing the aforementioned structure, achieves a technological advancement compared to existing technologies in the following ways: The present invention pre-treats whey wastewater through a multi-stage pretreatment mechanism. Specifically, multiple vertical filter cartridges in the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism perform multi-stage filtration of the whey wastewater, removing suspended solids, fats, etc., thus preventing clogging of subsequent treatment equipment. The pre-treated whey wastewater is then pumped to an ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism. Utilizing the selective permeability of the ultrafiltration membrane, proteins in the whey wastewater are separated, and the obtained proteins are used in nutritional supplements, sports foods, or infant formula. Subsequently, the whey wastewater, now free of proteins, is continuously supplied to a spray-scraper integrated crystallization mechanism via a transfer pump. The whey wastewater is atomized and sprayed onto the heating area of ​​the spray-scraper integrated crystallization mechanism. Heating evaporates the water in the whey wastewater, causing lactose in the whey wastewater to crystallize. The lactose crystals are then scraped off and collected, allowing the obtained lactose to be widely used in the food industry. This invention utilizes an adjustable pumping unit for drainage operations. On one hand, it supplies pretreated whey wastewater to a pressure pump; on the other hand, the adjustable pumping unit can be connected to a sludge pump to remove deposits from the lower part of the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism, achieving the purpose of cleaning. Furthermore, during the sludge removal operation, the first transmission wheel is controlled to move, and the position of the adjustable pumping unit is adjusted simultaneously, achieving thorough sludge removal from the lower part of the pretreatment tank. In summary, this invention can extract protein and lactose separately, improving the treatment effect and significantly increasing the efficiency of recycling. Simultaneously, it avoids resource waste, reduces wastewater treatment costs, and prevents direct discharge of whey wastewater or pollution caused by untreated substances separated from whey wastewater. Through a comprehensive combination of technologies, whey wastewater can be transformed from a "burden" into a "gold mine of resources," propelling the cheese industry towards the goal of zero emissions. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0016] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism after removing the adjustable extraction unit in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure shown from another angle; Figure 5 for Figure 3 An axial sectional view of the structure shown. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the water inlet unit in the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism of this invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustable extraction unit in the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism of this invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting drive assembly in the adjustable extraction unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the opening and closing components in the adjustable extraction unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is an axial structural cross-sectional view of the adjustable extraction unit of the present invention after removing the lifting drive assembly; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the integrated spraying and scraping crystallization mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 This is an axial structural cross-sectional view of the integrated spraying and scraping crystallization mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the spray-scraper integrated crystallization mechanism of the present invention, showing the connection between the vertical liquid guide pipe and multiple vertically arranged spray-scraper components; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the vertically arranged spraying and scraping assembly in the integrated spraying and scraping crystallization mechanism of this invention. Figure 16 This is a top view of the vertically arranged spraying and scraping assembly in the integrated spraying and scraping crystallization mechanism of this invention. Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in the integrated spray-scraping crystallization mechanism of the present invention, showing the connection between the vertical liquid guide pipe and multiple inclined spray-scraping components. Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the inclined spraying and scraping assembly in the integrated spraying and scraping crystallization mechanism of this invention.

[0017] Components labeled: 100-Multi-stage pretreatment mechanism, 101-Pretreatment tank, 1011-Cylindrical tank body, 1012-Fixing base, 1013-Inlet weir, 1014-Vertical filter cylinder, 1015-Central filter cylinder, 1016-Drive shaft, 1017-First drive wheel, 102-Inlet unit, 1021-Annular inlet pipe, 1022-Inlet hole, 1023-Inlet connector, 103-Adjustable pumping unit, 10 301-Guide rail, 10302-Fixing sleeve, 10303-Adapter plate, 10304-Sludge suction pipe, 10305-Filter cover, 10306-Sludge discharge connector, 10307-Water suction pipe, 10308-Fixing spring, 10309-Sealing cover, 10310-Transmission ear, 10311-Rail component, 10312-Vertical lead screw, 10313-Power motor, 10314-First pulley, 10315-Second pulley Two pulleys, 10316-Transmission belt, 10317-Water-blocking sleeve, 10318-Connecting seat, 10319-First adapter seat, 10320-Second adapter seat, 10321-Vertical transmission screw, 10322-Operating handwheel, 200-Ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism, 201-Ultrafiltration membrane filter, 202-Inlet branch pipe, 203-Inlet main pipe, 204-Outlet branch pipe, 205-Outlet main pipe, 300-Integrated spray and scraper Crystallization mechanism, 301-Heating vessel, 302-Electric heating wire, 303-Insulated shell, 304-Steam exhaust connector, 305-Guide hopper, 306-Discharge port, 307-Vertical guide pipe, 308-Connecting pipe, 309-Spraying and scraping assembly, 3091-Atomizing spray component, 3092-Scraping component, 3093-Connecting ear, 3094-Connecting pin, 3095-Connecting spring, 310-Scraping blade, 311-Second transmission wheel. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustrative and explanatory purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0019] This invention discloses a structure for recycling whey wastewater used in cheese production, such as... Figures 1-18As shown, it includes a multi-stage pretreatment unit 100, an ultrafiltration membrane filtration unit 200, and a spray-scraper integrated crystallization unit 300 connected in sequence. The multi-stage pretreatment mechanism 100 includes a pretreatment tank 101, a central filter cartridge 1015, an adjustable extraction unit 103, and multiple vertical filter cartridges 1014. The central filter cartridge 1015 is coaxially disposed at the center of the pretreatment tank 101, and its lower end is rotatably connected to the lower end of the pretreatment tank 101. A drive shaft 1016 is coaxially disposed at the lower end of the central filter cartridge 1015, and a first drive wheel 1017 is mounted on the drive shaft 1016. The multiple vertical filter cartridges 1014 are coaxially disposed and sequentially arranged from the outside to the inside. The mesh size of the outer vertical filter cartridges 1014 is smaller than that of the inner vertical filter cartridges 1014. That is, these vertical filter cartridges 1014 filter out the impurities in the whey wastewater from the outside to the inside according to their volume, so that the suspended solids, fats, etc. in the whey wastewater entering the central filter cartridge 1015 are below the limit value. These vertical filter cartridges 1014 are arranged between the pretreatment tank 101 and the central filter cartridge 1015, with each vertical filter cartridge 1014 coinciding with the axis of the central filter cartridge 1015. The adjustable pumping unit 103 of this invention is connected to the upper end of the central filter cartridge 1015 and is used for pumping water and removing sludge. The working principle and advantages of this invention are as follows: This invention pretreats whey wastewater through a multi-stage pretreatment mechanism 100. Specifically, the multiple vertical filter cartridges 1014 of the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism 100 perform multi-stage filtration of the whey wastewater, removing suspended solids, fats, etc., thus avoiding clogging of subsequent treatment equipment. The pretreated whey wastewater is then pumped to the ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism 200 via a pressure pump. Utilizing the selective permeability of the ultrafiltration membrane, proteins in the whey wastewater are separated, and the obtained proteins are used in nutritional supplements, sports foods, or infant formula, etc. Subsequently, the whey wastewater, after protein removal, is continuously supplied to the integrated spray-scraper crystallization mechanism 300 via a transfer pump. The whey wastewater is atomized and sprayed onto the heating area of ​​the integrated spray-scraper crystallization mechanism 300. By heating and evaporating the water in the whey wastewater, lactose in the whey wastewater crystallizes out. The lactose crystals are scraped off and collected, allowing the obtained lactose to be widely used in the food industry. This invention utilizes an adjustable pumping unit 103 for pumping operations. On one hand, the pretreated whey wastewater is supplied to a pressure pump. On the other hand, the adjustable pumping unit 103 can be connected to a sludge pump to remove the material deposited at the bottom of the multi-stage pretreatment mechanism 100, achieving the purpose of cleaning. Furthermore, during the sludge pumping operation, the first transmission wheel 1017 is controlled to move, and the position of the adjustable pumping unit 103 is adjusted simultaneously to achieve the purpose of cleaning the bottom of the pretreatment tank 101 without dead corners.In summary, this invention can extract protein and lactose separately and improves the processing efficiency, significantly increasing the efficiency of recycling. At the same time, it avoids resource waste, reduces the input cost of wastewater treatment, and prevents direct discharge of whey wastewater or pollution of the environment by substances separated from whey wastewater without additional treatment. Furthermore, through a comprehensive combination of technologies, whey wastewater can be transformed from a "burden" into a "gold mine of resources," propelling the cheese industry towards the goal of zero emissions.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 , 3 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pretreatment tank 101 includes a cylindrical tank body 1011. Multiple fixed seats 1012 are uniformly arranged along the circumference of the lower end of the cylindrical tank body 1011. A water inlet weir 1013 is constructed at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body 1011. The radial length of the water inlet weir 1013 is greater than the radial length of the cylindrical tank body 1011. A water inlet unit 102 is installed at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body 1011. In this embodiment, the water inlet unit 102 includes an annular water inlet pipe 1021, which is installed at the water inlet weir 1013 at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body 1011. The axis of the annular water inlet pipe 1021 coincides with the axis of the water inlet weir 1013. Multiple water inlet holes 1022 are uniformly opened along the circumference of the lower part of the annular water inlet pipe 1021. A water inlet connector 1023 is constructed on the annular water inlet pipe 1021. Whey wastewater enters the annular inlet pipe 1021 through the inlet connector 1023, and then enters the space between the outermost vertical filter cylinder 1014 and the cylindrical pool body 1011 through the inlet hole 1022, so that the whey wastewater can be filtered step by step.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 , 7As shown, the adjustable extraction unit 103 includes a guide rail 10301, a track component 10311, a suction pipe assembly, and a lifting drive assembly. A fixing sleeve 10302 is fitted and fixed to the upper part of the central filter cylinder 1015. An adapter plate 10303 is fixedly connected to the fixing sleeve 10302. The adapter plate 10303 is detachably connected to one end of the guide rail 10301. The guide rail 10301 extends radially from the center of the pretreatment tank 101 to its edge, and is located above each vertical filter cylinder 1014. In this embodiment, the track component 10311 is generally a linear slide, which is mounted on the guide rail 10301 and connected to the suction pipe assembly. The lower end of the suction pipe assembly extends vertically into the pretreatment tank 101, and the lifting drive assembly is assembled between the suction pipe assembly and the track component 10311. In this embodiment, during the pumping operation, the linear slide is controlled to move to the position above the central filter cylinder 1015, and then the lifting drive assembly is controlled so that the lower end of the suction pipe assembly gradually extends from the top of the central filter cylinder 1015 to the lower part of the central filter cylinder 1015. After that, the suction pipe assembly is connected to the inlet end of the pressure pump through a hose. The pressure pump draws out the whey wastewater in the central filter cylinder 1015 and supplies it to the ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism 200. During sludge removal, the linear slide is moved to a position between the cylindrical tank 1011 and the adjacent vertical filter cylinder 1014, or between two adjacent vertical filter cylinders 1014. Then, the lifting drive assembly is controlled to extend the lower end of the suction pipe assembly to the bottom of the pretreatment tank 101. The suction pipe assembly is then connected to the inlet of the sludge removal pump via a flexible hose, and the pump is activated to remove the sediment accumulated at the bottom of the pretreatment tank 101. Furthermore, by driving the first drive wheel to rotate, the guide rail 10301 rotates along the axis of the central filter cylinder 1015, thereby achieving sludge removal without dead angles. In this embodiment, the position of the suction pipe assembly on the guide rail 10301 is adjusted to achieve radial adjustment in different areas. Furthermore, the suction pipe assembly can be connected to the outlet end of the pressure pump, and the inlet end of the pressure pump can be connected to the cleaning water tank. The cleaning water is jetted through the suction pipe assembly onto the wall of the central filter cylinder 1015 or the vertical filter cylinder 1014. In conjunction with the drive guide rail 10301 rotating along the axis of the central filter cylinder 1015 and controlling the lifting drive component to move, the suction pipe assembly moves vertically, thereby achieving the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the wall of the central filter cylinder 1015 or the vertical filter cylinder 1014 without dead angles, effectively removing residual impurities on the central filter cylinder 1015 and the vertical filter cylinder 1014, and avoiding affecting the filtration performance.

[0022] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 7 , 9As shown in Figure 10, the suction pipe assembly includes a sludge suction pipe 10304, a water suction pipe 10307, ​​a filter cover 10305, a sealing cap 10309, and an opening and closing assembly. The water suction pipe 10307 is coaxially disposed inside the sludge suction pipe 10304. The filter cover 10305 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the sludge suction pipe 10304, with the lower end of the filter cover 10305 in an open state. The sealing cap 10309 is disposed at the lower end of the filter cover 10305. A fixing spring 10308 is fitted onto the lower part of the filter cover 10305, with both ends of the fixing spring 10308 fixedly connected to the filter cover 10305 and the sealing cap 10309, respectively, thereby achieving an elastic connection between the filter cover 10305 and the sealing cap 10309. In this embodiment, a sludge discharge connector 10306 is connected to the upper part of the sludge suction pipe 10304. The sludge discharge connector 10306 is detachably connected to the inlet end of the sludge suction pump via a hose. The upper end of the water suction pipe 10307 is detachably connected to the pressure pump via a hose. An opening and closing assembly is installed between the upper ends of the sludge suction pipe 10304 and the upper ends of the water suction pipe 10307. During water pumping, the upper end of the water suction pipe 10307 is detachably connected to the inlet end of the pressure pump via a hose, and the pressure pump removes the whey wastewater. During cleaning, the upper end of the water suction pipe 10307 is detachably connected to the outlet end of the pressure pump via a hose, and cleaning water is pumped into the water suction pipe 10307 by the pressure pump and then sprayed out through the filter cover 10305, thereby achieving the purpose of cleaning the periphery of the vertical filter cylinder 1014 and the periphery of the central filter cylinder 1015. The specific structure of the opening and closing assembly in this embodiment is as follows: the opening and closing assembly includes a water-blocking sleeve 10317 and a vertical transmission screw 10321. The water-blocking sleeve 10317 is fitted onto the upper part of the pumping pipe 10307. A connecting seat 10318 is constructed at the lower end of the water-blocking sleeve 10317. The connecting seat 10318 is detachably connected to the upper end of the sludge suction pipe 10304. A first adapter seat 10319 is constructed on the connecting seat 10318. A second adapter seat 10320 is constructed at the upper end of the pumping pipe 10307. The lower end of the vertical transmission screw 10321 is rotatably connected to the first adapter seat 10319. The upper end of the vertical transmission screw 10321 is threadedly connected to the second adapter seat 10320. An operating handwheel 10322 is mounted on the vertical transmission screw 10321.This embodiment achieves the conversion between sludge removal and water pumping by controlling the opening and closing of the opening and closing components. Specifically, when pumping is performed, rotating the operating handwheel 10322 forward causes it to drive the pumping pipe 10307 upward via the vertical transmission screw 10321. This causes the lower part of the pumping pipe 10307 to detach from the sealing cover 10309 and maintain a certain distance from it. Thus, under the suction of the pressure pump, the whey wastewater in the central filter cartridge 1015 enters the pumping pipe 10307 through the filter cover 10305 and is then pumped out. When performing sludge removal operations, the operating handwheel 10322 is rotated in the reverse direction, causing it to drive the pumping pipe 10307 downward through the vertical transmission screw 10321 until the pumping pipe 10307 abuts against the sealing cover 10309 and drives the sealing cover 10309 downward a predetermined distance. At this time, the sealing cover 10309 and the lower end of the filter cover 10305 form a sludge removal channel. Thus, under the suction of the sludge removal pump, the sediment in the lower part of the pretreatment tank 101 enters the sludge removal pipe 10304 through the sludge removal channel and is then removed by the sludge removal pipe 10304.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 7 , 8 As shown, the lifting drive assembly includes a vertical lead screw 10312, a power motor 10313, a first pulley 10314, a second pulley 10315, and a transmission belt 10316. A transmission lug 10310 is constructed at the upper end of the sludge suction pipe 10304. The lower end of the vertical lead screw 10312 is rotatably connected to the track member 10311, and the vertical lead screw 10312 is threadedly connected to the transmission lug 10310. The power motor 10313 is mounted on the track member 10311. The first pulley 10314 is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the power motor 10313, and the second pulley 10315 is coaxially mounted on the vertical lead screw 10312. The first pulley 10314 and the second pulley 10315 are connected by the transmission belt 10316. In this embodiment, the power motor 10313 is controlled to rotate forward or reverse, which drives the vertical screw 10312 to rotate forward or reverse. Under the transmission of the vertical screw 10312, the suction pipe assembly moves upward or downward in the vertical direction, thereby realizing the adjustment of the vertical position for sludge removal, water pumping, or cleaning.

[0024] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 11As shown, the ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism 200 includes multiple ultrafiltration membrane filters 201, which are arranged in multiple rows. The inlet end of each row of ultrafiltration membrane filters 201 is connected to a corresponding inlet branch pipe 202, and the outlet end of each row of ultrafiltration membrane filters 201 is connected to a corresponding outlet branch pipe 204. The inlet end of each inlet branch pipe 202 is connected to a main inlet pipe 203, and the outlet end of each outlet branch pipe 204 is connected to a main outlet pipe 205. In this embodiment, multiple ultrafiltration membrane filters 201 are used for simultaneous filtration to achieve efficient filtration of proteins in whey wastewater.

[0025] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 12-14 As shown, the integrated spray-scraping crystallization mechanism 300 includes a heating vessel 301, a vertical liquid guide pipe 307, and multiple spray-scraping components 309. A heat-insulating shell 303 is fitted onto the outer peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301, and an electric heating wire 302 is installed between the heating vessel 301 and the heat-insulating shell 303 for heating the heating vessel 301. In this embodiment, the vertical liquid guide pipe 307 is coaxially mounted at the center of the heating vessel 301. The lower end of the vertical liquid guide pipe 307 extends vertically downward from the upper end of the heating vessel 301 to the lower part of the heating vessel 301. A steam exhaust connector 304 is constructed at the upper end of the heating vessel 301. The steam exhaust connector 304 is connected to the inlet end of the condenser through a pipeline. A second drive wheel 311 is coaxially mounted on the upper part of the vertical liquid guide pipe 307. The aforementioned multiple spraying and scraping components 309 are connected at the part of the vertical liquid guide pipe 307 that extends into the heating vessel 301, and these spraying and scraping components 309 are evenly arranged along the circumference of the vertical liquid guide pipe 307. The working principle and advantages of this embodiment are as follows: This embodiment pressurizes and supplies whey wastewater after protein removal into the vertical guide pipe 307, thereby causing the whey wastewater to be atomized and sprayed onto the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301 by the spraying and scraping assembly 309. At the same time, the second transmission wheel 311 drives the vertical guide pipe 307 to rotate, so that the spraying and scraping assembly 309 continuously sprays the whey wastewater onto the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301. In the process of the spraying and scraping assembly 309 rotating with the vertical guide pipe 307, the lactose that has crystallized on the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301 is scraped off. In this embodiment, the heating vessel 301 has a lower part with a guide hopper 305, and a discharge port 306 is formed at the lower end (small diameter end) of the guide hopper 305. A scraper 310 is connected to the lower end of the vertical liquid guide pipe 307, and the scraper 310 contacts the inner peripheral wall of the guide hopper 305. In this way, during the rotation of the vertical liquid guide pipe 307, it drives the scraper 310 to scrape the lactose entering the guide hopper 305, ensuring that the lactose is smoothly discharged through the discharge port 306.

[0026] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 15 , 16As shown, the spray-scraping assembly 309 includes an atomizing spray component 3091 and a scraper component 3092. One end of the atomizing spray component 3091 is close to the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301, and the other end is connected to a vertical guide pipe 307 via a connecting pipe 308. The atomizing spray component 3091 has a liquid distribution chamber connected to the connecting pipe 308. Multiple atomizing holes are formed on the end face of the atomizing spray component 3091 near the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301. The scraper component 3092 is installed on one side of the atomizing spray component 3091, and one end of the scraper component 3092 contacts the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301. In this embodiment, the scraper 3092 and the atomizing sprayer 3091 are connected in the following way: a connecting pin 3094 is constructed on the upper and lower parts of the end of the atomizing sprayer 3091 away from the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301. Each connecting pin 3094 moves through the connecting lug 3093 on the scraper 3092. A connecting spring 3095 is fitted on the outside of the connecting pin 3094. The two ends of the connecting spring 3095 are fixed to the scraper 3092 and the connecting lug 3093, respectively. In this embodiment, whey wastewater is atomized and sprayed onto the inner circumferential wall of the heating vessel 301 via an atomizing spray component 3091. Under the heating of the heating vessel 301, the water evaporates, and lactose crystallizes on the inner circumferential wall of the heating vessel 301. As the vertical guide pipe 307 rotates, the atomizing spray component 3091 continuously atomizes and sprays the inner circumferential wall of the heating vessel 301, forming continuous lactose crystals. Simultaneously, the scraper component 3092 on the next spray-scraping assembly 309 scrapes the lactose crystals formed by the atomization and evaporation of the previous spray-scraping assembly 309, thereby achieving continuity of the entire process and improving the efficiency of evaporation and crystallization. Moreover, since the scraper component 3092 and the atomizing spray component 3091 are elastically connected, the scraper end of the scraper component 3092, under the action of the connecting spring 3095, is always in contact with the inner circumferential wall of the heating vessel 301, ensuring that the lactose crystals are fully scraped off.

[0027] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 17 , 18 As shown, both the atomizing spray component 3091 and the scraping component 3092 are inclined, and the scraping end of the inclined scraping component 3092 is always in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301. When the vertical guide pipe 307 is driven to rotate the spray-scraping assembly 309, the atomizing spray component 3091 sprays the area to be sprayed on the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301 from top to bottom, while the scraping component 3092 scrapes the area to be scraped on the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel 301 from top to bottom. In this way, as the scraping component 3092 scrapes away the lactose crystals, the lactose crystals fall smoothly without being affected by the atomizing spray component 3091, thus preventing the atomized liquid from the atomizing spray component 3091 from spraying onto the falling lactose crystals and affecting their quality.

[0028] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A structure for recycling whey wastewater used in cheese production, characterized in that: The system includes a multi-stage pretreatment mechanism, an ultrafiltration membrane filtration mechanism, and a spray-scraper integrated crystallization mechanism connected in sequence. The multi-stage pretreatment mechanism includes a central filter cylinder coaxially positioned at the center of the pretreatment tank. The lower end of the central filter cylinder is rotatably connected to the lower end of the pretreatment tank. A drive shaft is coaxially constructed at the lower end of the central filter cylinder, and a first drive wheel is mounted on the drive shaft. Multiple vertical filter cylinders are coaxially arranged between the pretreatment tank and the central filter cylinder. An adjustable suction unit is connected to the upper end of the central filter cylinder. The adjustable suction unit includes a guide rail connected to the upper end of the central filter cylinder. The guide rail extends radially from the center of the pretreatment tank to its edge. A track component is mounted on the guide rail and connected to a suction pipe assembly. The suction pipe assembly extends vertically into the pretreatment tank. A lifting drive assembly is installed between the suction pipe assembly and the track component. The suction pipe assembly includes a water suction pipe coaxially positioned within a sludge suction pipe. A filter cover with its lower end in an open state is fixed to the lower end of the pipe. A sealing cap is elastically connected to the lower end of the filter cover. A sludge discharge connector is connected to the upper part of the sludge suction pipe. An opening and closing assembly is assembled between the upper end of the sludge suction pipe and the upper end of the water suction pipe. The opening and closing assembly includes a water-blocking sleeve fitted onto the upper part of the water suction pipe. A connecting seat is constructed at the lower end of the water-blocking sleeve. The connecting seat is detachably connected to the upper end of the sludge suction pipe. A first adapter seat is constructed on the connecting seat. A second adapter seat is constructed at the upper end of the water suction pipe. The lower end of the vertical transmission screw is rotatably connected to the first adapter seat. The upper end of the vertical transmission screw is threadedly connected to the second adapter seat. The lifting drive assembly includes a vertical screw whose lower end is rotatably connected to the rail component. The vertical screw is threadedly connected to the suction pipe assembly. A power motor is installed on the rail component. A first pulley is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the power motor. A second pulley is coaxially mounted on the vertical screw. The first pulley and the second pulley are connected by a transmission belt.

2. The structure for recycling whey wastewater in cheese production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pretreatment tank includes a cylindrical tank body with multiple fixed seats at the lower end. A water inlet unit is installed at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body. The water inlet unit includes an annular water inlet pipe installed at the water inlet weir at the upper end of the cylindrical tank body. Multiple water inlet holes are evenly opened along the circumference of the lower part of the annular water inlet pipe. A water inlet connector is constructed on the annular water inlet pipe.

3. The structure for recycling whey wastewater in cheese production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The integrated spray-scraping crystallization mechanism includes a heating vessel with a vertical liquid guide pipe coaxially mounted in the center, a steam exhaust connector at the upper end of the heating vessel, the steam exhaust connector being connected to the inlet end of the condenser, a second drive wheel coaxially mounted at the upper part of the vertical liquid guide pipe, and multiple spray-scraping components connected at the part of the vertical liquid guide pipe that extends into the heating vessel.

4. The structure for recycling whey wastewater in cheese production according to claim 3, characterized in that: The spraying and scraping assembly includes an atomizing spraying element with one end close to the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel and the other end connected to a vertical liquid guide pipe through a connecting pipe. The atomizing spraying element has a liquid distribution chamber connected to the connecting pipe. Multiple atomizing holes are opened on the end face of the atomizing spraying element close to the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel. A scraping element is installed on one side of the atomizing spraying element, and one end of the scraping element is in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel.

5. The structure for recycling whey wastewater in cheese production according to claim 4, characterized in that: Connecting pins are respectively constructed on the upper and lower parts of the end of the atomizing spray component away from the inner peripheral wall of the heating vessel. Each connecting pin moves through the connecting lug on the scraper component. A connecting spring is fitted on the outside of the connecting pin. The two ends of the connecting spring are respectively fixed to the scraper component and the atomizing spray component.

6. The structure for recycling whey wastewater in cheese production according to claim 4, characterized in that: Both the atomizing spray component and the scraping component are inclined. When the vertical guide pipe is driven to rotate the spraying and scraping assembly, the atomizing spray component sprays the area to be sprayed on the inner wall of the heating vessel from top to bottom, and the scraping component scrapes the area to be scraped on the inner wall of the heating vessel from top to bottom.

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