It is of great importance that milk is cooled as soon as possible to limit bacterial overgrowth. This is facilitated by the use of a '''plate cooler'''. The plate cooler is placed between the receiver vessel and bulk tank and cools the milk so that when it enters the bulk tank, it is close to the storage temperature of 4°C. Using a counter current mechanism, cold water runs in the opposite direction to the flow of milk and heat is transferred from the milk to the water. The surface area is maximised to increase the efficiency of this process by the use of several stainless steel plates separating the milk and water. Once in the bulk tank, the temperature is maintained at 4°C ready for collection by the dairy milk tanker. | It is of great importance that milk is cooled as soon as possible to limit bacterial overgrowth. This is facilitated by the use of a '''plate cooler'''. The plate cooler is placed between the receiver vessel and bulk tank and cools the milk so that when it enters the bulk tank, it is close to the storage temperature of 4°C. Using a counter current mechanism, cold water runs in the opposite direction to the flow of milk and heat is transferred from the milk to the water. The surface area is maximised to increase the efficiency of this process by the use of several stainless steel plates separating the milk and water. Once in the bulk tank, the temperature is maintained at 4°C ready for collection by the dairy milk tanker. |