Steam Boilers play a major part in any processing industry and an unarguable fact is that they are the backbone of the dairy and milk processing industries and require to be; highly efficient, resilient, and preferably compact for seamless operations. Boilers in the dairy industries mainly perform the processes of milk pasteurization and Ultra Heat Temperature (UHT) to ensure that the milk is safe for consumption and free from harmful bacteria for optimal shelf life. The milk processing plants utilize steam for processing and pasteurizing raw milk and dairy products under heat treatment. It leads to the process and production of various dairy products such as milk powder, yogurt, cheese, condensed milk, skimmed milk, butter, ghee, and cream.
India is the world’s largest dairy industry producing over 187 million tons of milk. It is therefore natural to conclude that India is the largest milk producer and consumer in the world. Milk and milk products have an imperative place in Indian cuisine. The North Indian population largely resorts to milk processed items such as cheese, ghee, and cottage cheese/paneer for their cooking, while the South Indian population uses milk and yogurt in their traditional dishes. Milk is a staple in the religious practices and ceremonies in India and an essential ingredient for Ayurveda medicinal purposes.
Use of Steam Boiler in Dairy Industries:
Boiler for the milk industry is crucial to ensure that the raw milk does not contain any harmful bacteria such as pathogens. Steam boilers are used for processing raw milk under high temperatures to ensure that it is safe for usage and other milk processing operations.
Raw milk processing takes place through the following procedures:
Pasteurization:
Pasteurization is a process where the temperature of the raw milk is increased to around 212 degrees Fahrenheit to assure that all the harmful bacteria that may cause harm to the milk are neutralized.
Ultra Heat Temperature (UHT):
Ultra Heat Temperature or UHT is the process that increases the milk temperature and sterilizes it over 275 degrees Fahrenheit for around 5 seconds. The process ascertains the complete removal of the bacterial spores.
Apart from these, boiler for milk dairy generate steam for the purpose of sterilizing the boiler and equipment involved during the processing operation and heating the dairy plant itself to ensure that there are not any bacteria present in the processing operation.
Factors to Consider while selecting Boiler for Milk Industry and Milk Processing Operation:
Although demands may slightly vary in different processing plants, some of the important and unavoidable factors to keep in mind while choosing a boiler for milk dairy industry are:
Reliable and Resilient to handle fluctuating load:
Most milk processing plants operate for long hours throughout the day. Therefore, the steam boilers must be reliable and resilient enough for managing the on-off operations in the processing units easily and swiftly. Boiler for milk dairy must be highly efficient as the dairy industry demands and operates with precision in steam and temperature.
Compact in design and size:
Although it may not be an essential requirement for the dairy industry, it is advisable to opt for compact steam boilers. It takes less footprint and leaves room for other equipment that may facilitate the processing operation further.
Sustainable and Environment Friendly:
Dairy industries use boilers on long cycles that means that they function for a longer duration. It leads to a high level of pollution that causes harm to the climate. It is, therefore, important that the boilers are environmentally friendly and contribute towards sustainable development.
Cost-effective and Economical:
As already mentioned, boilers are operated with high frequency in milk processing plants. Considering the high scale consumption of milk globally, steam boilers are required to be economical and cost-effective to produce and supply milk and milk products in the market at affordable prices without bringing loss in the processing plant itself. Because of these reasons, it is wise to select boilers that are cost-effective and work with different fuels as per the availability.
Highly Efficient:
Needless to say, a boiler for milk dairy should be highly efficient and durable to ensure the smooth functioning and maintenance of the dairy industries.
Rakhoh Boilers, with more than 38 years of experience, manufactures and installs highly efficient and long-lasting steam boilers in the dairy industries. Along with that, Rakhoh’s skillful and dedicated team works tirelessly to provide the best maintenance service and upgrades in the boiler for the milk industry.
As of 2020, India is the most self-sufficient milk producer in the world, with about 4.2 % of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) falling under the dairy industry along with export to countries such as Bhutan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt at the value of US$186.71 million or Rs.1341.03 Crore.
