Steam boilers in the dairy industry: their use and important factors

Steam boilers are important in any industrial process, but in the dairy industry they are a fundamental element, which is why they must be highly efficient, robust and compact to function perfectly. Steam boilers in the dairy industry They are primarily responsible for the pasteurisation of milk and subjecting it to very high temperatures (UHT) to make the milk suitable and safe for human consumption and also to eliminate harmful bacteria for an optimal shelf life. Milk processing plants use steam to process and pasteurise raw milk and dairy products under heat treatment. In this way, various dairy products such as milk powder, cheese, yogurt, condensed milk, skimmed milk, cream and butter are processed and produced.

The use of steam boilers in the dairy industry

The Steam boilers in the dairy industry they are essential to ensure that raw milk does not contain harmful bacteria such as pathogens. Steam boilers are used to process raw milk at high temperatures to ensure it is safe for consumption and other dairy processing operations.

The processing of raw milk undergoes the following procedures:

• Pasteurisation: This is a process where the temperature of raw milk is raised to 100°C to ensure that all harmful bacteria that can damage the milk are neutralised.
• Ultra-Heat Treatment (UHT): Ultra-caloric temperature or UHT is the process that raises the temperature of milk and sterilises it at over 150°C for a period of about 5 seconds to completely eliminate bacterial spores.

Besides for these procedures, the steam boilers in the dairy industry, steam is generated to sterilise the boiler itself and the equipment involved during the processing operation, and also to heat the dairy plant itself to ensure there are no bacteria present in the processing operation.

Factors to consider when selecting steam boilers in the dairy industry

Although requirements may vary slightly in different processing plants, some of the important and unavoidable factors to consider when choosing a boiler for the dairy industry are:

• Resistance and reliability to handle load fluctuations

  The vast majority of milk processing plants operate for many hours a day and, consequently, the Steam boilers in the dairy industry They must be reliable enough and robust to handle the on/off operations within the processing units quickly and easily. Boilers for dairy plants must be highly efficient, as required by the dairy industry, and function with precision regarding steam and temperature.

• Compact design and size

  Even though it is not an essential requirement for the dairy industry, it is advisable to opt for compact steam boilers because they take up less space and leave room for other equipment that can further facilitate the processing operation.

• Sustainable and environmentally friendly

  The dairy industry uses long-cycle boilers, which means they operate for longer periods. This leads to a high level of pollution that is detrimental to the environment. For this reason, it is important that Steam boilers in the dairy industry be respectful of the environment and contribute to sustainable development.

• Profitable and affordable

  Boilers are very frequently in operation in milk processing plants. Considering the high consumption of milk worldwide, it is required that steam boilers be economical and cost-effective to produce and supply milk and dairy products into the market at affordable prices without causing losses in the processing plant itself. For these reasons, it is advisable to select boilers which are cost-effective and which run on different fuels based on availability.

• High efficiency

  The Steam boilers in the dairy industry they must be highly efficient and durable to ensure the smooth running and maintenance of dairy industries. If you want to know how to increase your boiler's performance, be sure to follow the 7 steps to increase boiler efficiency

Furthermore, it is important to have a team capable of offering the best maintenance and upgrade services. Steam boilers in the dairy industry. Take a look at our checklist to ensure the maintenance of industrial boilers