Milk cooling equipment is a crucial part of dairy pasteurization and processing. A reliable dairy chiller cools processing equipment and the milk it processes to maintain necessary temperatures.
Proper temperature maintenance ensures food safety and protects consumers from harmful bacteria and serious illnesses. Industrial air- and water-cooled dairy chillers cycle refrigerant through various components to cool milk processing equipment and maintain proper milk temperatures. Learning how industrial dairy milk chillers work can help you choose a system for your dairy processing needs.
Importance and Types of Dairy Chillers
Dairy chillers cool milk after it heats up during the pasteurization process. Pasteurization is crucial because it eliminates pathogens to make milk consumable, but it heats milk to a high temperature that could facilitate bacteria growth if it remains heated. Cooling milk prevents this bacteria growth so it remains safe and lasts long.
The pasteurization process heats milk to 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds or 280 degrees Fahrenheit for one to two seconds. Pasteurization and proper cooling reduce the risk of salmonella and foodborne illnesses, protecting consumers from serious health complications.
The best type of dairy chiller for your business depends on the size of your operation. While older, conventional dairy chillers work well for small dairy farms containing 40 or fewer cows, larger farms require different types of chillers, such as glycol systems, which can have air- or water-cooled compressors.
Glycol Chillers
Industrial glycol chiller systems are the most common type of dairy milk chillers. A glycol chiller is also known as a plate chiller because its heat exchanger is a stainless steel plate. A glycol chiller is a more hygienic, cost-effective option that requires less labor than other chiller systems.
Water-Cooled Chillers
Water-cooled chillers use water to absorb heat from milk and equipment. Since these chillers use a water source such as a water tower, a farm must have a mechanical room to use this system. Water-cooled chillers require more maintenance and have a slightly higher upfront cost than air-cooled systems, but they are more energy-efficient.
Air-Cooled Chillers
An air-cooled chiller use surrounding air to remove heat from milk and equipment. Since air-cooled systems require a consistent supply of fresh air, they must be in an open space to operate properly. They are an excellent option for farms in areas prone to water shortages. Air-cooled chillers require less maintenance and typically cost less than water-cooled models.
Components of a Dairy Milk Cooling System
A glycol dairy chiller pumps milk into refrigerated vats via stainless steel pipes. The milk then funnels through stainless steel plates to a section of the dairy chiller, where a coolant mixture of water and glycol cools the milk. Chiller systems are made of the following components:
- Evaporator: The cooling process begins in the evaporator, where the refrigerant absorbs heat. Refrigerant is a chemical that absorbs heat quickly to cool equipment efficiently. Heat transforms the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas state.
- Compressor: A compressor compresses the gas to increase its pressure before sending it to the condenser.
- Condenser: A water- or air-cooled compressor cools the refrigerant back to a liquid state and returns it to the evaporator.
- Expansion valve: An expansion valve regulates temperature to control heat levels.
How Does a Dairy Chiller Work?
A dairy chiller uses a refrigerant to absorb heat and cool milk processing equipment. First, cool liquid refrigerant enters a chiller’s evaporator, which serves as a heat exchanger. The evaporator transfers process heat from the milk and equipment to the refrigerant, boiling it and turning it into a low-pressure gas.
Next, the compressor receives the low-pressure gas and increases its temperature and pressure so it can release heat in the condenser. Refrigerant gas returns to a liquid state in the condenser. Water or surrounding air absorbs heat as the refrigerant transforms into a liquid. The expansion valve then meters the liquid refrigerant so it can repeat the cycle when it returns to the evaporator.
Benefits of Bulk Milk Chilling Units
Milk chilling units are significantly beneficial for dairy farms. They help farmers save time and money while increasing milk’s shelf-life and ensuring food safety. Using an industrial milk chilling system offers the following benefits:
- Food safety: Reliable chilling systems ensure milk remains safe during and after the pasteurization process.
- Increased shelf life: Cooling milk prevents bacteria growth and extends its shelf life, allowing time for farmers to ship milk to stores. Proper cooling ensures milk remains consumable during the time it takes consumers to purchase and use it after it reaches a store.
- Energy efficiency: Chilling units eliminate the need for storage tanks because they cool on demand, saving energy and reducing energy costs. A single cycle brings milk to its proper temperature.
- Environmental friendliness: Dairy milk chillers release minimal emissions into the environment.
- Shorter cooling time: Since chillers cool on demand, they significantly reduce cooling time.
- Simple maintenance: Chilling units are easy to clean and maintain.
- Continuous processing: Dairy milk chillers operate smoothly, allowing processes to continue without interruption.
- Long-lasting equipment: Chiller systems prevent processing equipment from overheating, allowing it to last longer.
- Heightened performance: Industrial chiller systems contain industrial-grade mechanisms that deliver the strongest performance possible.
- Precise temperature control: Industrial chillers provide the precise temperature control necessary for daily dairy milk processing.
What Temperature Should Milk Be Kept?
U.S. laws require milk to be maintained at a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower before and after pasteurization. However, milk quality relies on temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Following pasteurization, milk should remain below 40 degrees to remain the safest and last as long as possible.
Contact Smart Family of Cooling Products to Find the Right Chiller for Your Needs
Industrial dairy milk chillers allow large farms to maintain proper milk temperatures consistently and efficiently. Maintaining proper temperatures is crucial for milk processing because it prevents harmful bacteria from growing and protects consumer health. Glycol, water- and air-cooled chillers contain the industrial-grade mechanisms necessary to deliver high-performance cooling.
Smart Family of Cooling Products offers reliable chiller systems to cool dairy processing machines and keep milk at safe temperatures. Our expertise in the cooling industry allows us to manufacture custom solutions to meet each dairy farm’s needs.
With over 30 years of designing and manufacturing high-quality chiller systems, we deliver trusted solutions to help our clients improve business operations efficiently. Contact Smart Family to learn more about how our industrial chiller systems and custom solutions can benefit your dairy processing.
