MILK STERILIZATION PILOT PLANT.
INTRODUCTION

This unit reproduces a UHT system with direct steam heating, on a pilot scale.
Milk is pre-heated in a plate heat exchanger and it reaches sterilization temperature after a direct injection of steam; then part of the absorbed water is removed during an expansion stage followed by a fast cooling carried out in a second plate
exchanger.

TRAINING PROGRAM
This unit enables to deepen the following issues:
• Product quality versus sterilization time and temperature
• PID temperature control by microprocessor controller
• Energy balance
• Plant supervision

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
• Wheeled framework of AISI 304 stainless steel
• Max. feeding: 100 l/h (higher flow rates on demand)
• Cylindrical feed tank of AISI 304 stainless steel, mirror polished inside, with capacity of 80 l
• Cylindrical tank of AISI 304 stainless steel, mirror polished inside, with capacity of 80 l, for collecting the sterilized product
• 2 plate heat exchangers (pasteurization and cooling) of AISI 316 stainless steel, with exchange surface of 0.1 m²
• Gear-type feed pump with body of AISI 316 stainless steel and flow rate of 200 l/h
• Electronic frequency variator for feed pump
• Feed flowmeter of AISI 316 stainless steel, with range of 0 to 100 l/h, accuracy: ± 0.5%
• Plate-type milk pre-heater of AISI 316 stainless steel, with exchange surface of 0.6 m²
• Sterilization chamber of AISI 304 stainless steel
• Vacuum chamber of borosilicate glass, with capacity of 5 l, for reducing milk temperature after sterilization
• Liquid-ring vacuum pump, P = 0.7 kW, provided with air/ water separator
• Plate heat exchanger of AISI 316 stainless steel, for milk cooling, exchange surface of 0.6 m²
• Gear pump of AISI 316 stainless steel (flow rate of 200 l/h) for transferring sterlized milk from fl ash chamber to cooling exchanger
• Electronic frequency variator for milk transfer pump

• Connecting lines and valves of AISI 304 and 316 stainless steel
• Four Pt100 thermoresistances with sheath of AISI 316 stainless steel
• 4 electronic temperature indicators
• Microprocessor PID controller
• Pneumatic valve of AISI 316 stainless steel, Cv = 0.13, for controlling the flow rate of sterlization steam
• Pneumatic valve of AISI 316 stainless steel, Cv = 2.5, for controlling the flow rate of milk pre-heating water
• Shell-and-tube condenser of AISI 304 stainless steel, with exchange surface of 0.3 m²
• 2 electropneumatic converters, 4 to 20 mA / 0.2 to 1 bar
• Switchboard with protection degree IP55 complying with EC standards and including a differential circuit breaker and a schematic diagram of the plant
• Pneumatic valve of AISI 316 stainless steel, Cv = 2.5, for adjusting vacuum degree
• Electropneumatic converter, 4 to 20 mA / 0.2 to 1 bar,
accuracy: ± 1%
• Supervision software this software runs in Windows and it is designed to control ON-OFF signals, analog signals coming from the controller, real-time trend and historical trend
Dimensions: 2100 × 800 × 2000 mm
Weight: 380 kg

ACCESSORIES (NOT INCLUDED)
• Hot water generator
• Steam generator
supplied with THEORETICAL – EXPERIMENTAL HANDBOOK