Sensor-Controlled Milk Tank Routing in Milking Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking systems face challenges in reducing the amount of discarded milk due to milk quality issues and temperature variations, leading to lower milk production yield.
Innovation Solution
A milking system equipped with sensors to monitor milk properties and cooling system functionality, with a control device that redirects milk to a secondary tank if quality deviations or cooling failures are detected, ensuring milk quality and temperature uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If milk is transported to a single tank, then the system is simple to operate, but milk quality control deteriorates due to inability to separate different quality milk
Solution Approach 1:
The single tank system is segmented into multiple tanks (first tank and second tank) with separate inlet conduits and valve arrangements for each tank. This allows independent control and quality separation of milk batches, improving milk quality control while maintaining operational simplicity through automated valve control based on quality sensor feedback.
2Reliability
If multiple tanks are used for milk storage, then milk quality control improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions: it receives signals from quality sensors, controls valve arrangements for multiple tanks, monitors cooling system temperature, and directs milk flow based on quality assessment. This multi-functionality consolidates control logic into a single device, managing system complexity while enabling sophisticated quality control across multiple tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
Quality sensors continuously monitor milk properties (electric conductivity, turbidity) and provide feedback to the control device. The control device uses this feedback to automatically adjust valve positions and redirect milk flow, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains quality without requiring complex manual intervention.
3Temperature
If cooling system operates continuously, then milk temperature control improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system operates periodically rather than continuously. Temperature sensors monitor milk temperature and trigger the cooling system only when temperature exceeds the target range (4°C). The control device activates the cooling system in periodic cycles based on temperature feedback, maintaining temperature uniformity while reducing unnecessary energy consumption during adequate cooling periods.
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
Reduces the amount of discarded milk by preventing contamination and maintaining consistent milk quality and temperature, thereby increasing milk production yield.
Implementation Method 1
sensing a milk property of milk present in the first milk tank or flowing towards the first milk tank... said sensor being configured to sense a property indicative of the temperature of the milk in the first milk tank, wherein said sensor comprises a sensor configured to sense the electric conductivity of the milk
Implementation Method 2
sensor configured to sense the turbidity of the milk
Implementation Method 3
tanks are provided with a cooling arrangement comprising a cooling system via which the heat is transferred from the milk to the cooling system
Implementation Method 4
cooling system via which the heat is transferred from the milk to the cooling system
Implementation Method 5
a stirrer arranged in the tank for the purpose of stirring the milk and avoiding hot spots and cool spots of the milk in the tank and promoting an even milk temperature in the tank
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A milking system configured to milk animals, said system comprising a milking station (1), a first milk tank (2) and a second milk tank (3), a controllable valve arrangement (5) configured to open or close a first branch (4a) and to open or close a second branch (4b) of a milk transport conduit (4), to control to which tank that milk is transported, and a control device (6) configured to control the controllable valve arrangement (5). The milking system comprises a sensor (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) configured to sense a property of milk present in the first milk tank (2) or of milk flowing towards the first milk tank (2), or a sensor configured to sense a property of a cooling arrangement for controlling the temperature of the milk in the first milk tank (2), and the control device (6) is configured to control the controllable valve arrangement (5) on basis of information from said sensor (7, 8, 9, 10, 11).