Milk Pump Load Control to Clear Air in Milking Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The capacity of milking devices is limited due to prolonged pumping times caused by air present in the system, which affects the efficiency of milk pumps, particularly rotodynamic pumps like centrifugal pumps.
Innovation Solution
A milking system with a load-indicating measuring device and control unit that pauses or reduces the milk pump operation when the load is below a predetermined threshold, allowing air to escape, thereby optimizing the pumping process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the milk pump operates continuously without delay, then the pumping action completes faster in ideal conditions, but the pump efficiency decreases when air is present in the system
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives load indication signals from the measuring device and automatically adjusts pump operation based on real-time load conditions. When load falls below the threshold (indicating air presence), the control unit triggers a delay action, thereby optimizing pump efficiency without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (pump running status) based on the load indication parameter. By monitoring load and comparing it to a threshold, the system dynamically adjusts between running and delayed states, adapting to varying air presence conditions in the milk line.
2Reliability
If a delay action is triggered to allow air to escape, then pump efficiency improves, but the total pumping time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of always delaying the pump (excessive action) or never delaying (insufficient action), the system applies partial action by triggering delays only when the load indication falls below the threshold. This conditional approach ensures delays are applied just enough to remove air without unnecessarily extending pumping time when air is not present.
3Reliability
If the load threshold is set low, then more delay actions are triggered improving efficiency, but pumping time increases due to excessive delays
Solution Approach 1:
The threshold value is not fixed but can be dynamically adjusted based on system conditions, pump type, and operating parameters. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between efficiency and speed for different scenarios, maintaining high capacity while preventing excessive delays.
4Device complexity
If no measuring device is used, then the system is simpler, but the pump cannot adapt to air presence conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device and control unit enable the pump system to monitor and adjust its own operation autonomously. The system serves itself by detecting load conditions and automatically triggering delay actions without external intervention, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
AI summary
A method for pumping milk milked using a milking system (1) is described. The milking system comprises a milking cup (2) having a milk hose (3) thereon, a milk glass (4) fluidically connected thereto, having a milk storage vessel (6) fluidically connected via a milk line (5), a milk pump (7) and a control unit (9). The milking system further comprises a measuring device (8) for measuring how heavily the milk pump is loaded. The method comprises milking milk, collecting the milk milked in the milk glass, pumping the milk milked from the milk glass via the milk line to the milk storage vessel using the milk pump after the milking operation, and further measuring the load indication of the milk pump using the measuring device during said pumping, and delaying or pausing the milk pump by means of the control unit in a delay action if the load indication is lower than a predetermined load threshold. A lower load indication may indicate undesired inclusion of air. Delaying or even pausing the milk pump can give said air an opportunity to escape, after which the pumping away is more efficient and can compensate for the delay action.