Milk Cooling Vessel Base Projection and Outlet Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerated bulk milk tanks face challenges in cooling milk efficiently and maintaining accessibility for repairs due to design limitations, such as funnel-shaped or rounded bases that obstruct access underneath the vessel, leading to increased maintenance costs and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A vessel design featuring a cylindrical tank with a base that includes a projection portion projecting into the tank volume, allowing for improved structural integrity and accessibility, along with a shorter outlet tube and an agitator paddle for enhanced cooling efficiency, where the cooling panel operates when at least 50% of its area is covered by milk to minimize ice formation and optimize cooling time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a funnel-shaped base is used to improve structural integrity and cooling efficiency, then cooling performance is improved, but accessibility for maintenance underneath the vessel is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into two distinct portions: a funnel-shaped first portion that provides structural integrity and cooling efficiency, and a flat second portion that enables accessibility for maintenance. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If a long outlet tube is used to extend the radial position, then liquid removal capability is improved, but the volume of milk left in the outlet tube increases leading to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the outlet tube radially outward from the apex, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the outlet tube at the periphery of the base, where it can achieve adequate liquid removal capability while minimizing the volume of milk retained in the tube, thus reducing contamination risk.
3Productivity
If the cooling panel is operated early to reduce cooling time, then productivity is improved, but ice formation increases which can damage the cooling panel
Solution Approach 1:
A controller monitors the volume of liquid in the tank and activates the cooling panel only when the liquid volume exceeds a predetermined threshold. This feedback-based control ensures the cooling panel operates at the optimal time, preventing ice formation while achieving efficient cooling within the required timeframe.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces the critical volume of milk required to initiate cooling, shortens the outlet tube length, and provides better access for maintenance, thereby reducing cooling time, maintenance costs, and potential contamination risks while maintaining efficient milk cooling within the 2.5-hour timeframe.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling panel disposed along at least a portion of the base wherein the cooling panel is configured to cool a liquid disposed in the liquid volume
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to vessels (400) for cooling liquids, in particular, vessels for cooling milk. An aspect of the disclosure provides a vessel for cooling milk, the vessel comprising: a tank configured to hold a liquid, the tank comprising: a cylindrical side wall (410) enclosing a cylindrical volume around a central longitudinal axis, the cylindrical side wall having a first longitudinal end (414); and, a base (420) connected to the cylindrical side wall at the first longitudinal end of the cylindrical side wall, wherein the cylindrical side wall and the base enclose a liquid volume configured to hold a liquid, wherein the base comprises a projection portion (422) which projects into the cylindrical volume from the first longitudinal end of the cylindrical side wall; a cooling panel (430) disposed along at least a portion of the base wherein the cooling panel is configured to cool a liquid disposed in the liquid volume; and, an outlet tube (440) disposed in the base, wherein the outlet tube is configured to permit a liquid disposed in the liquid volume to exit the tank.