Milking Line Cleaning Slug Control Using Receiver Vibration Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Milking arrangements face issues where slugs of cleaning liquid may become excessively long or short, or get eliminated before reaching the receiver due to changing conditions in the milk transport line, affecting cleaning efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A milking arrangement with a vibration sensor on the receiver to measure the motion caused by a slug's entry, a control system to determine slug characteristics, and additional sensors along the line to adjust vacuum and gas introduction for optimal slug formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a slug of cleaning liquid is formed and forwarded through the milk transport line using a vacuum system and controllable injector, then the cleaning liquid is transported efficiently, but the slug may become excessively long or short, or be eliminated before reaching the receiver due to changing conditions in the milk transport line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors (pressure sensors, flow meters, temperature sensors) along the milk transport line to continuously monitor conditions and provide feedback to the control system. The control system adjusts the vacuum level and gas introduction timing based on this feedback, ensuring consistent slug formation and delivery to the receiver despite varying operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the vacuum level and gas introduction parameters in real-time based on sensor feedback. The controllable injector and vacuum system can modify their operation to maintain optimal slug characteristics, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that adapts to changing conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vacuum level or amount of liquid in the milk transport line changes, then the system can adapt to different operating conditions, but the slug characteristics become unstable and may become excessively long or short
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure sensors and flow meters continuously monitor the milk transport line conditions and provide feedback to the control system, which adjusts vacuum level and gas introduction to maintain precise slug length control despite varying operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system modifies key parameters (vacuum level, gas introduction timing and amount) in response to sensor feedback, dynamically adjusting these parameters to maintain consistent slug characteristics across different operating conditions.
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
Ensures consistent slug formation and cleaning effectiveness by controlling vacuum and gas introduction based on sensor feedback, maintaining desired slug characteristics for efficient cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration sensor arranged on the receiver and configured to measure a motion of the receiver caused by a slug entering the receiver
Implementation Method 2
a controllable injector configured to introduce an amount of gas into the milk transport line thus producing a temporary pressure increase therein which causes a slug of a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source to be formed an forwarded through the milk transport line
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum system configured to supply a vacuum in the milk transport line via the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A milking arrangement with a milk transport line and a plurality of milk stations connected thereto, with a receiver that receives milk transported from the milk stations via the transport line, a vacuum system that supplies a vacuum in the transport line via the receiver, a cleaning liquid source connected to the transport line, and a controllable injector that introduces gas into the milk transport line that to cause a slug of cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source to be formed and forwarded through the transport line, a vibration sensor being arranged on the receiver and configured to measure a motion of the receiver caused by the slug entering the receiver, and a control system configured to control the operation of the injector and to determine an entering of the slug into the receiver based on the measurement of the vibration sensor.