A method for cooling milk in a milking arrangement, and a milk cooling apparatus of the milking arrangement that has a coolant circuit for heat exchange between milk and a coolant and a refrigerant circuit for heat exchange between a refrigerant and the coolant, where the method includes controlling the refrigerant circuit to maintain a predefined temperature range, receiving a first signal relating to commencement or increase of a milk flow from a milking system of the milking arrangement, starting or increasing circulation of coolant in the coolant circuit, and leading the milk flow through the milk cooling apparatus.

An apparatus for reducing the temperature of a liquid product in a processing line includes a polymer member having a passageway formed therein for receiving a liquid product in the passageway; an inlet and an outlet each in fluid communication with a corresponding opposed end of the passageway; a plurality of delivery channels formed in the polymer member, each one of the plurality of delivery channels having an opening in fluid communication with a different location of the passageway and constructed to provide a chilling medium into the passageway; and a support member for the polymer member, the support member constructed to mount the polymer member in the processing line. A related method is also provided.

A method for treating liquid food products after direct heating comprises a first cooling of the liquid food product occurring on a floor of the infuser vessel up to an outlet opening. A second cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a tubular section connecting directly to the outlet opening. A third cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a housing cover of a pump housing of a centrifugal pump. At least one flushing operation of the pump housing and of an impeller via a rear impeller gap is performed, wherein the at least flushing operation occurs via a front impeller gap located between the housing cover and the impeller. Volume flows of the at least one flushing operation are greater than equalization flows within the pump housing.

A novel method for freeze-related separations, involving the combination of water with a selected concentration of biogenic ice nucleation proteins, freezing the combination, and separating the ice, potentially via centrifugation or sublimation. In some instances, the freezing conditions and the concentration of the at least one biogenic ice nucleation protein are selected such that the aqueous solution, upon freezing, forms a lamellar ice crystal structure having at least one property selected from the group consisting of a solute inclusion volume at least 30% smaller than in the first material alone, a hydraulic diameter at least 30% larger than in the first material alone, an inclusion width that is less than 10% of a crystal dimension, a hydraulic diameter that is less more than 1.5 times that of an inclusion width, a deviation of crystal orientation angle in the transverse direction of less than 45 degrees, an ice crystal length in the transverse direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone, and a length of the ice crystal structure in the longitudinal direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone. The use of these structures result in a significant efficiency improvement and energy savings.

A novel method for freeze-related separations, involving the combination of water with a selected concentration of biogenic ice nucleation proteins, freezing the combination, and separating the ice, potentially via centrifugation or sublimation. In some instances, the freezing conditions and the concentration of the at least one biogenic ice nucleation protein are selected such that the aqueous solution, upon freezing, forms a lamellar ice crystal structure having at least one property selected from the group consisting of a solute inclusion volume at least 30% smaller than in the first material alone, a hydraulic diameter at least 30% larger than in the first material alone, an inclusion width that is less than 10% of a crystal dimension, a hydraulic diameter that is less more than 1.5 times that of an inclusion width, a deviation of crystal orientation angle in the transverse direction of less than 45 degrees, an ice crystal length in the transverse direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone, and a length of the ice crystal structure in the longitudinal direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone. The use of these structures result in a significant efficiency improvement and energy savings.

A fill sheet arrangement in a direct heat exchange section of a cooling tower is provided. Each fill sheet includes ridges, grooves, separators, and an air inlet louver zone itself having ridges, grooves and separators, that improve the performance of the fill sheet arrangement when installed as a direct heat exchange section of a cooling tower. The air inlet louver zone improves the air flow capabilities and performance of the direct heat exchange section by limiting the evaporative liquid from leaving the fill sheet.

Directly heating a protein-enriched milk product occurs by introducing steam, the direct heating taking the form of an infusion or injection method. The described technique significantly extends service time, ensuring a content of non-denatured whey proteins in the treated protein-enriched milk product greater than that obtained in the prior art. The milk product, which is preheated and kept at temperature is indirectly cooled before direct heating by a recuperative cooling step from the preheating temperature to a cool-down temperature with a temperature difference ranging from 5 K to 10 K. The direct heating from the cool-down temperature to the high pasteurization temperature is controlled by direct heating setting parameters which are known per se. Finally, the milk product is cooled by flash cooling from the high pasteurization temperature to a necessarily required exit temperature.

Heat exchange devices, including aseptic cooler devices, and systems including same are provided. Methods of using heat exchange device are also provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides heat exchangers having an open chamber configuration and including a first section containing a cooling or heating media and a second section containing a food product. The first section includes a level detecting device that is configured to maintain a level of cooling or heating media in the first section, while preventing the cooling or heating media from pressurizing the first section. The open chamber configuration provides an air break at a top portion of the first section that ensures that the cooling or heating media entering the first section is at, or close to, atmospheric pressure.

The invention is directed to a method to transport liquid milk to obtain transported liquid milk during a supply chain time of more than 10 days wherein during at least a 90% of the duration of the supply chain time the liquid milk is kept at a temperature of less than 2 C. A ship is provided in the supply chain with one or more containers for carrying between 40 and 5000 M.sup.3 liquid milk. Raw milk is subjected to a pasteurization thermal treatment to obtain processed milk for transport by the ship in the supply chain.

The invention is directed to a method to transport liquid milk to obtain transported liquid milk during a supply chain time of more than 10 days wherein during at least a 90% of the duration of the supply chain time the liquid milk is kept at a temperature of less than 2 C. A ship is provided in the supply chain with one or more containers for carrying between 40 and 5000 M.sup.3 liquid milk. Raw milk is subjected to a pasteurization thermal treatment to obtain processed milk for transport by the ship in the supply chain.