Centrifugal Sterilization Separator for Milk Powder Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process for producing milk or whey powder faces challenges with increased thermodur spore formers over time, leading to short production intervals and high economic costs due to frequent cleaning requirements, especially for Low Thermo Spore powder quality standards.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sterilization separator after evaporation stages to reduce germ content, using centrifugal sterilization to maintain system cleanliness and extend production intervals, with optional use of multiple separators in series or parallel configurations for enhanced disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional evaporation process is used without sterilization separator, then production can run continuously, but thermoduric spore formers increase over time requiring frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization separator performs preliminary sterilization of the milk product during the evaporation process, eliminating thermoduric spore formers before they can accumulate to problematic levels. This preliminary action allows continuous production without frequent cleaning interruptions while maintaining low spore counts in the final powder product.
2Productivity
If production is extended to reduce cleaning frequency, then productivity increases, but thermoduric spore formers accumulate exceeding quality standards
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization separator enables continuous sterilization action throughout the production process, maintaining consistently low spore counts in the milk product even during extended production intervals. This continuous useful action allows the system to run for longer periods between cleanings while always meeting quality standards for thermoduric spore formers.
3Reliability
If frequent cleaning is performed to maintain quality, then powder quality is maintained, but production efficiency decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization separator extracts and removes thermoduric spore formers from the milk product during processing. By taking out the harmful spores continuously, the system maintains high powder quality without requiring frequent cleaning interruptions, thus reducing time loss and increasing production efficiency.
4Productivity
If sterilization separator is added to the process, then thermoduric spore formers are reduced extending production intervals, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization separator performs multiple functions within a single device: it acts as both a sterilization unit and a heat exchanger during the evaporation process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sterilization equipment, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving extended production intervals through effective spore reduction.
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
This method significantly extends the intervals between cleaning cycles, ensuring continuous production and improving the quality of milk or whey powder by reducing thermoduric spore formers, thereby reducing operational costs and maintaining high powder quality.
Implementation Method 1
the milk or whey is sterilized by a centrifugal sterilization separator
Implementation Method 2
the liquid base product, pre-pasteurized milk or whey, which may be adjusted to a specific protein content, protein/fat ratio, or similar, is concentrated from its original dry matter content (hereinafter abbreviated to DS) (approx. 8% DS for skimmed milk) or higher, as with whole milk (approx. 12% DS) by evaporation of the liquid
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a milk or whey powder (800, 801, 802), wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: I. providing milk, in particular skimmed milk (800) or whole milk (801), or whey (802); II. thickening the milk or whey by means of a first evaporation process (400, 401, 402) and/or second evaporation process (600, 601, 602); III. drying (700, 701, 702) the thickened milk or whey to provide a milk or whey powder (800, 801, 802), wherein, after the first and/or second evaporation process (400, 401, 402, 600, 601, 602), sterilization (501, 502) of the milk or whey is carried out by means of a centrifugal bacteria-removing separator. The invention also relates to a use of a bacteria-removing separator.