Chilling and preservation of Milk
You can chill milk from 35 degree C to 4 degree C using Bulk Milk Coolers of 50, 100,300, 500, 1000,3000,5000,10000,15000 litre (ideally in 2.5 to 3 hours time in the morning, evening milk will get chilled faster, as morning milk already chilled is present inside in the cooler, so it takes less time to chill to 4 degree compared to morning time). You should not freeze milk as it can create many issues.
Chilled milk taste won’t change. Chill the milk to 4 degree C and transport it in insulated tankers to the milk collection centres or dairy plants. Better to be equipped for slight chilling in the tanker itself in case the temperature rises above 4 degree C.
The most cost efficient way of storing milk will be in a Bulk Milk Cooler, Direct Expansion type with digital temperature indicators. The cooler shuts off automatically when it reaches 4 degree and starts on its own when the temperature rises. This is possible using a temperature sensor probe installed at the bottom of the tank which senses the temperature of the milk inside the cooler. In today’s world chilling of milk is automated giving you real time data. For e.g. how much milk poured in BMC, pouring time, chilling temperature, chilling time taken, Power- Grid or generator, its running time enabling you to get, real time data. You can keep a check on the Grid and Diesel expenses of chilling centers, by making use of this technology. It will also give sms alerts if milk is poured again or milk is lifted. The chilling centre person responsible can digitally lock the BMC, which will give SMS and e mail alerts on adding milk or milk lifting time. So this will enable the person responsible for milk collection to keep a track on the truck movement, following already scheduled milk lifting in a particular route.
Milk must be chilled and stored in liquid form only in insulated & refrigerated tanker, to avoid loss of temperature. You can keep the milk 1 day if the milk is not disturbed and temperature maintained in insulated Bulk Milk Coolers with Digital Temperature indicators with auto on/off set up and with agitator operating in between to ensure uniform chilling. Bulk Milk Coolers are mainly of 2 types – DX type – direct expansion type (Gas used to chill milk as it has dimple jacketed bottom) and IBT type – Ice Bank Type, where in chilled water is already present in the compartment coming in contact with milk, chilling water procedure should start 1.5 hours or more to build ice on the sides of the milk storing compartment, before milk is poured into the cooling tank. An Ice Bank Tank using an Ice Builder immerse the bottom of the inner milk chamber (milk tank) in an open pool of water with copper tubes containing refrigerant suspended in the water.
Murali krishnan
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
