Animal husbandry – Milkers
Patent
1989-11-29
1990-11-20
Weiss, John
Animal husbandry
Milkers
119 1402, 2101952, 210651, A01J 700
Patent
active
049709895
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for membrane filtration of milk in connection with milking.
2. Description of the Related Art
When cows are milked by means of milking machines the flow varies very strongly. The variation is caused partly by the construction of the milking plant and partly by the physiological properties of the cows.
Milking plants work with vacuum and the milk is transported through a pipe line system, which has a vacuum which is fairly equal, to a container usually called an end unit. From this container the milk is pumped, under atmospheric pressure, through a pipe line to a cooling tank or some other storage vessel.
When milk is membrane filtrated in connection to the milking, a membrane filter is connected to the milking plant by way of a balance tank. From this the milk is pumped to a circulation path comprising the membrane filter, in which the milk is divided into two fractions, a concentrate and a permeate. Depending on the choice of filter media these fractions have a different composition. If the milk is to be concentrated by way of ultrafiltration, the permeate consists of water, milk sugar and low molecular salts. If the concentration takes place by way of reverse osmosis the permeate consists of water obtained from the milk.
The membrane filtration usually takes place in direct connection to the milking. After the milking the milk has a temperature of about 35.degree. C. and considering the shelf life it is important that the time the milk is kept at this temperature is kept as short as possible.
The milk is transported from the end unit by way of a milk filter, in which coarser contaminations are separated off, to the balance tank and is from there pumped to the circulation path of the membrane filter.
When the level in the balance tank has fallen to a certain predetermined value, the pump which transports the milk to the circulation path stops. At this time there are consequently residues of milk in the end unit, in the pipe lines between this unit and the balance tank and in this tank.
The milking plant as well as the components which are included in the membrane filtration equipment must be cleaned after each milking. The milk which is left in the plant will if no measures are taken be lost during the washing and consequently represents a loss to the milk producer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention it is therefore proposed that permeate obtained during the membrane filtration is used to press forward milk from the end unit in the milking plant and from the pipe lines between the same and the membrane filter, when the milking is ended.
An arrangement for membrane filtration of milk in connection with milking comprises a so called end unit, a balance tank and pumps to transport the milk from these units and a circulation path comprising a circulation pump and a membrane filter and pipes for transport of concentrate and permeate. The arrangement according to the invention also comprises a pipe line to return permeate to the end unit.
According to the invention there is obtained an increased yield of milk concentrate. By pressing forward the milk by means of permeate, that is a product which has been obtained from the milk, no oppositions could be made from a food technical point of view, the more since the permeate (used for pressing forward the milk) according to the invention is produced in direct connection with the pressing forward of the milk and is not stored during the production phase. If ordinary tap water is used there is always a risk for contamination, especially in such an exposed environment as a stall.
The method and the arrangement according to the invention are described further with reference to the attached drawing which shows an example of how a membrane filtration equipment is connected to the end unit in a milking plant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The FIGURE is a schematic view of the apparatus for membrane filtration of milk in connection wi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4175514 (1979-11-01), Souza et al.
Alfa-Laval AB
Weiss John
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