Milk Reception Unit

Overview

A Milk Reception Unit is the intake station of a dairy plant, where raw or pasteurized milk delivered by tanker is measured and routed into storage or processing. It removes entrained air, meters volume, filters out sediment, draws a representative sample for quality testing, and pumps the milk onward, handling 5000 to 50000 litres per hour. Wetted parts are stainless steel for hygiene and cleaning.

Air elimination

Air entrained during pumping inflates volume readings, so the Air Eliminator removes it first. Milk enters a sealed Vacuum Chamber where a Separator Plate breaks foam and releases trapped air. A Vacuum Pump holds the chamber at −0.3 to −0.5 bar, a Vacuum Valve relieves over-vacuum, and a Pressure Sensor monitors the level.

Flow metering

Once de-aerated, milk passes through the Flow Meter for accurate volume measurement. A Meter Body houses a Meter Rotor, either a turbine or magnetic pickup, whose pulses are read by Meter Electronics that count and display flow with RS485 or Ethernet output. A Meter Calibration feature sets the K-factor in pulses per litre and resets the totalizer.

Filtration

The Filter Assembly removes sediment and foreign matter down to 100–300 microns. A Filter Body holds a Filter Screen mesh or cartridge, with a Filter Drain valve to purge captured sediment. A Filter Bypass relief valve opens if pressure drop across a clogged screen exceeds the setpoint, protecting the system, and a Clogging Indicator differential-pressure gauge signals when the screen needs cleaning.

Sampling

Quality control requires a representative sample, drawn by the Sampler Valve. A Sampler Body proportional valve diverts small aliquots into a Sample Container of stainless steel or borosilicate glass. A Solenoid Sampler solenoid triggers each draw in proportion to flow or on a timer, and a Sampler Strainer fine mesh keeps large particles out of the collected sample.

Transfer pumping

The Transfer Pump moves milk onward at constant flow. A Pump Motor three-phase motor with VFD drives a Pump Unit rotary lobe pump, with a Pump Check Valve on the discharge to prevent backflow. An O-Ring Set supplies the pump's seal and gasket replacement kit.

Control and piping

The Control Unit coordinates the station. A Flow Controller PLC or relay module accumulates meter pulses and triggers sampling, while a Display Panel shows flow rate, total volume, and alarms. It commands Solenoid Valves for pump and sampler actuation, and an optional Data Recorder logs flow and sample events to a central database. Product routing is handled by the Piping Manifold, built around a Manifold Block header with Isolation Valves for circuit isolation, Check Valves preventing reverse flow, and a Drain Plug for priming and purge.

Process sequence

In normal receiving, a tanker hose connects to the manifold and the milk follows a fixed order through the unit. It first reaches the Air Eliminator, because air must come out before any accurate measurement is possible; a falsely high reading caused by trapped air would overstate the delivered volume and the payment owed to the supplier. The de-aerated milk then crosses the Flow Meter, whose Meter Electronics integrate volume against the calibrated K-factor. The Filter Assembly removes sediment before the milk reaches downstream equipment, and the Clogging Indicator warns when the Filter Screen needs servicing.

Sampling and transfer

While the milk flows, the Flow Controller paces the Sampler Valve so that the sample drawn into the Sample Container is proportional to the volume passing, giving a representative aliquot for fat, protein, and contamination testing rather than a snapshot of one moment. The Transfer Pump then moves the metered, filtered milk to a silo or to processing, its Pump Motor held at constant speed by the VFD so the Flow Meter sees a steady rate. Once a delivery completes, the Drain Plug and Filter Drain allow the lines to be emptied and cleaned in place between batches.