PHILIP GUEST,LEE PAGE,TREVOR TAYLOR,CHRISTOPHER STRUTT
申请号：
GB201017062
公开号：
GB2484351A
申请日:
2010.10.09
申请国别(地区):
GB
年份:
2012
代理人:
摘要：
Apparatus and method for cooling milk from cows, sheep or goats in a milking parlour. The milk is passed directly to a heat pump 10 where heat is removed and transferred to water 11 to produce either warm or hot water for use elsewhere in the milk production process. The milk is cooled from the animal's body temperature (about 37°C) to nominally 4°C, suitable for storage 7 until transferred to a dairy 9 for further processing. The heat pump has multiple settings allowing production of either warm water, e.g. about 55°C, or hot water, e.g. up to 80°C. The warm water is used for lactating cows to drink, so increasing their milk yields, and / or for mixing with milk and feeding to calves. The hot water is used for sterilising the milk production apparatus. Either / both warm or / and hot water may be used for space heating, under floor heating or keeping access areas ice-free in winter. A controller monitors the milk production, its cooling and whether warm or hot water is produced. Additional chilling of the milk may be provided, if required, as may additional heating, if the temperature of the hot water is insufficient for sterilisation purposes.
