Dairy Processing - September/October 2022 - 58

EQUIPMENT
An integral role
Tanks remain a crucial part of processing liquid dairy product.
T
anks are an integral part of dairy processing
machinery, as they are used in various stages of
treatment and production. Liquid dairy products like
cream, buttermilk or yogurt can be kept fresh for as long as
possible using these tanks. They are crucial because they are
needed to produce high-quality, safe and fresh products.
Milk tanks, interim tanks and mixing tanks are some types
of tanks that are prevalent in a production plant. Most tanks
used in dairy production are made of stainless steel because
of the durability and cost-effectiveness of the material.
Stainless steel is also commonly used in other food processing
applications, such as mixing tanks or water tanks, due to
these properties.
STORAGE TANKS
The milk storage tank is ideal for cooling and holding milk at
a cold temperature until it's further processed. The machine is
made of stainless steel and used to store the raw milk in good
condition. These tanks are specifically selected based on the
needs and requirements of each individual customer.
Custom built tanks are common since different types of
product needs to be processed in a specific way.
Companies such as Paul Mueller Company, Springfield,
Mo., offer an array of custom tanks to meet a processor's
unique processing needs from storage to mixing of your final
product. Mueller's custom tanks have double-walled stainless
steel design, temperature control, pressure resistance and
Temp-Plate energy transfer systems. Mueller works with
well known dairy brands including Darigold, Leprino Foods,
Hiland Dairy Foods, Saputo and Dannon.
58 SEP-OCT 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Silo tanks for milk reception belong to the storage
category and they vary in size from 25,000 to about 150,000
liters and the wetted surfaces are made of stainless steel.
They are often placed outdoors to save on building costs.
In these cases, the tanks are insulated with a double shell
design. There are jacketed and double-walled tanks that
will help in the insulation of the vessel. The outer shell can
be of stainless steel, but for economic reasons, it is usually
made of mild steel and coated with anti-corrosion paint.
Specific processes require the content to remain at a certain
temperature. Effective insulation helps dairy products remain
fresh for longer periods of time, reduing waste.
To make complete drainage easy, the bottom of the tanks
slope downwards toward the outlet. This is a statutory
requirement in some countries. Silo tanks are fitted with
various types of agitators and monitoring and control
equipment. The number and size of the silo tanks are
determined by such factors as the milk intake per day, the
number of days per working week, the number of hours per
working day (one, two or three shifts), the number of different
products to be manufactured and the quantities involved.
Intermediate storage tanks are used to store a product for
a short time before it continues along the line, and tanks are
helpful in preventing any wastage of product. They are used
for buffer storage. After heat treatment and cooling, the milk
is pumped to a buffer tank, and from there to filling. If filling
is interrupted, the processed milk is buffered in the tank, until
operation can be resumed. Similarly, milk from this tank can
be used during a temporary processing stoppage.
stock.adobe.com
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - September/October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dairy Processing - September/October 2022
