RU2154376C1 - Freon-free in-flow milk cooling unit - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agricultural production, food-processing and other branches of industry. SUBSTANCE: unit has milk cooling vessel communicated to high-pressure and low-pressure pumps, condenser positioned between pumps, and vacuumized milk accumulator. Lower part of milk cooling vessel is connected via regulating valves to general-purpose milk pump, return valve and milk reservoir. Milk level and temperature sensors are positioned within milk vessel. Float valve is positioned in lower part of milk accumulator, on inlet end of pipeline which connects milk accumulator with milk vessel. Unit of such construction may be used for processing and storage of liquid and other liquid products in farms and other enterprises. Cooling is provided by energy-saving freon-free technology. EFFECT: increased efficiency and simplified construction. 4 cl, 1 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to the field of cooling liquid products, in particular milk, and can be used in agricultural production, the food industry, as well as in the processing and storage of milk and other liquid products on farms.

 A device is known for cooling milk on livestock farms with natural cold, comprising a milk heat exchanger, a coolant cooler, a branch pipe system, tanks (SU 165366 A1, A 01 J 9/04, 07/06/91).

 The disadvantage of this device is its high material consumption and the limited period of use of natural cold in the cold season.

 The closest in technical essence to the present invention is a vacuum milk cooler (RU 2108711, A 01 J 9/04, 04/20/98), containing a milk reservoir, high and low vacuum pumps, a condenser located between them, a milk cooling tank, pipelines .

 The disadvantage of this vacuum cooler is the inability to cool milk in the stream, which greatly limits the use of these systems in agricultural technology. They are very expensive in production and operation, and for this reason they are practically not used in large farms and dairy plants. The presence of a special condensate return line in the prototype worsens the sanitary condition of the milk and makes the cooler even more expensive. The noted shortcomings do not make it possible to ensure widespread use of the specified cooler in dairy farms and dairy plants.

 The objective of the invention is to provide an installation capable of cooling milk and other liquid products in a stream using energy-saving freon-free technology. This will improve efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of the cooling process, expand its scope in new environmentally friendly in-line technologies.

 As a result of the use of the invention through the use of new types of vacuum evaporators and pressurized containers of the in-line type, the scope of the vacuum cooling systems significantly expands and extends to new in-line environmentally friendly technologies. This will allow cooling milk and other liquid food products in a stream using energy-saving freon-free technology as it arrives from any type of milking machine immediately after the cow has been milked, which is very important to maintain the quality of milk.

 The above technical result is achieved by the fact that the lower part of the milk cooling tank through control valves is connected to a universal milk pump, non-return valve and a milk tank, and level and temperature sensors are installed in the milk cooling tank in an upright casing, electrically connected to the control unit, which, in turn, is electrically connected to a universal milk pump, and in the lower part of the milk storage at the inlet of the pipeline connecting it adjustment of the vacuum valve with the upper part of the container for cooling milk, the float valve is mounted, and the capacity for cooling the outer side of the shirt is coupled with nozzles battery or a source of natural cold.

 The invention is illustrated in the drawing, which shows a General view of the installation. Installation for freon-free milk cooling in the stream contains a tank 1 for cooling milk, the lower part of which is connected to a universal milk pump 2 and a check valve 3 through valve 4 and a control valve 5 with a tank 6 for milk, and in a tank 1 for cooling milk in a casing 7 level sensors are installed (for example, on magnetically controlled contacts) and temperature, electrically connected to the control unit 8, which in turn is electrically connected to the universal milk pump 2. The installation also contains accumulators spruce 9 for milk, in the lower part of which at the inlet of the pipeline 10 connecting it through an adjustable vacuum valve 11 with the upper part of the tank 1 for cooling milk, a float valve 12 with a seat 13 is installed. The tank 1 for cooling milk is connected to the pumps 14, 15 respectively, high vacuum and low vacuum and a capacitor located between them 16. A sensitive element of level sensors 17 is mounted on the casing 7 with the possibility of movement, for example, a float with a magnetic field source (permanent magnet). The tank 1 for cooling milk has an outside cooling jacket 18 with nozzles 19 connected to a battery or a source of natural cold (not shown in the drawing).

 Capacity 1 for cooling milk is closed by a lid 20, sealed by a handle 21 through a rubber gasket 22.

 Freon-free installation for cooling milk in the stream is as follows.

 Milk from the milking unit enters the milk storage 9, which is connected to the vacuum pump of the milking unit and is evacuated by this pump. In this case, the dissolved air partially leaves the milk. The milk, accumulating in the milk storage 9, opens the float valve 12, which pops up from the seat 13. The milk cooling tank 1 is closed by a lid 20, which is pressed through the rubber gasket 22 by the handle 21. The internal cavity of the milk cooling tank 1 is evacuated by a low vacuum pump 15 . Under the influence of the difference of residual pressures, milk from the accumulator 9 through the pipeline 10 through the vacuum valve 11 enters the tank 1 for cooling the milk and accumulates in it. From the control unit 8, the high vacuum pump 14 is turned on, while cooling water (coolant) is supplied to the condenser 16 from the battery or receiver of natural cold. When you turn on the pump 14 high vacuum and condenser 16 in the tank 1 for cooling milk creates a high vacuum (4 ... 6 mm Hg). Water vapor formed from the incoming milk is pumped out by a high vacuum pump 14 and fed to a condenser 16, where they condense. The low vacuum pump 14 performs an auxiliary function of periodically pumping non-condensable gases (air) from the condenser 16. Air is also pumped out, which remains in small quantities in milk, as well as air that enters the vacuum system through leaks. Under vacuum, the process of evaporation from milk is intensified, thermal energy is expended when the state of aggregation of the refrigerant changes, which is milk. In this case, a decrease in the temperature of the milk and its cooling. Chilled milk accumulates in the lower part of the tank 1 for cooling milk, gradually its level rises. At the same time, the upper level sensor is triggered at a certain moment. In the above example, a magnetically controlled contact located in a casing 7 made of diamagnetic material is closed by the magnetic field of a permanent magnet built into the float. The universal milk pump 2 is turned on, the pressure developed by it opens the check valve 3, and cold milk through the control valve 5 enters the milk tank 6. The universal milk pump can also be switched on by a signal from a temperature sensor. It depends on the law of administration adopted. After pumping a portion of milk, its level decreases, and the signal of the lower level sensor universal milk pump 2 is turned off. Then the cycle repeats.

 The float valve 12 in the milk store 9 prevents the “breakthrough” of air, providing a guaranteed volume of milk in the milk store 9 itself. Milk can also be cooled by passing the coolant (water) through the cooling jacket 18 by connecting the nozzles 19 to a receiver or accumulator of natural cold.

 The proposed installation provides effective in-line cooling of milk coming from the milking unit immediately after the cows are dispensed using energy-saving freon-free technology.

Claims (4)

 1. Freon-free milk cooling installation, comprising a milk reservoir, high and low vacuum pumps, a condenser located between them, a milk cooling tank, pipelines, valves, characterized in that the lower part of the milk cooling tank is connected to a universal milk via control valves pump, check valve and milk tank.  2. The Freon-free installation according to claim 1, characterized in that level and temperature sensors are installed in the milk cooling tank, which are electrically connected to the control unit, which, in turn, is electrically connected to the universal milk pump.  3. Freon-free installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a float valve is installed in the lower part of the milk storage tank at the inlet of the pipeline connecting it through an adjustable vacuum valve to the upper part of the milk cooling tank.  4. The Freon-free installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling tank on the outside has a shirt connected by pipes to a battery or a source of natural cold.