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Milk Reception and Storage

Raw fresh milk is received at the processing plant in cans directly from a producer or from a collection centre. The milk-receiving platform at dairy plant is elevated to facilitate convenient handling of cans. Also the space planning is such that cans are received and stored at the platform/ dock for unloading. Cans are emptied one by one into a weighing unit comprising of a calibrated weigh balance and weigh bowl.

Normally it takes 20-30 seconds to handle one can. Hence, 2-3 cans will be handled in a minute. Accordingly milk reception rate will be 100 litres of milk/minute; hence, around 6000-litres milk can be received in an hour. This simple calculation will help in deciding the equipment required for further handling.

i. Reception Dock
Milk reception dock will have a weighing machine, a can steaming block, can washer, temporary storage after weighing called as dump tank, a high capacity milk pump for pumping milk from this tank to a chiller.This cools the milk on line before it reaches into a storage tank. The chiller is usually a plate heat exchanger type unit, which cools milk almost instantaneously. The section also has a small laboratory to conduct platform test and recording of the milk being received.

ii. Storage Tanks

The raw milk storage tanks are usually double walled horizontal stainless steel tanks .These are insulated tanks, to prevent increase in the temperature of chilled milk. These are from 2000 litres to 10,000 litres in size, depending upon on the planned capacity of dairy plant.This may or may not be installed at the reception dock.

iii. Can-steaming Blocks and Can Washer

A can-steaming block is provided to sterilize the can. Inverted can is placed over this unit and steaming is done to a cleaned can. This unit is used in addition to can washer A Rotary can washer is also shown in figure-2.6. Inverted cans are placed after milk is emptied into weighing machine. Inverted can moves in a round and cleaning is done during various stages of can washer rotation. A can washer has provision for ordinary water wash, detergent wash, hot water wash and rinsing.Hot clean can should come out of this unit. All spray nozzles are maintained to give Dairy Equipment for Fluid Milk Processing high-pressure spray. Also the strength of detergent and its temperature is maintained for better cleaning

After the milk is received, clean warm water is supplied through same route as that of milk. Detergent washing is also carried out followed by ordinary water wash to ensure complete cleaning of all equipment used at the reception dock. Finally, do not forget to drain this equipment and dry them, and also clean the floor and surroundings.

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