GB432075A - Method of and means for the economic production of milk powder from whole milk - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0432075/III/1> Pre-evaporated milk from a vacuum concentrating unit B is sprayed through a nozzle 15, together with warm dry hydrogen from a generating system A supplied to an annular ring of nozzles 18, into a drying chamber 16 wherein dried powdered milk is deposited, the temperature of the milk in its successive treatments being that of normal fresh milk. The pre-evaporating unit comprises an inclined evaporator 5 with its heating tubes communicating with an ebullition chamber 6 from which the vapours are removed to a low pressure vapour chamber 21 by a compressor 23 for recirculation, together with injected water from a nozzle 25, to the heating spaces of the evaporator. The hydrogen generating system comprises a suction gas producer 27, dust-extractor 28, cooling tube 29, a blower 31, hydrogen extraction chamber 33, condenser 41, booster 43, gasometer 44, and a heater 46. Steam from a boiler 26, superheated in a coil 35, is supplied to the upper part of the extraction chamber 33, which is packed with iron or steel shavings or borings supported upon a perforated plate 37, and by diffusion strips a part of the hydrogen from the producer gas flowing beneath the plate. The hydrogen is dried in the condenser 41 and raised to the desired temperature by the heater 46. The moist gas from the drying chamber flows to a cyclone dust collector 48 from which milk particles are returned to the chamber and the hydrogen is returned to the gasometer through a condenser 49. The dried milk is collected and packed in a chamber 20 which is filled with hydrogen gas.