Abstract: A method and system for controlling the cooling of small milk quantities in a cooling tank (2) having a bottom wall portion (12) with a milk cooling surface (12′) within the tank being part of a cooling circuit an agitator (19) within the tank for stirring the milk therein. The gist of the invention is a) providing an element for measuring the milk quantity in the tank, and a temperature transducer (11) for monitoring the milk temperature in the tank, b) providing, in the cooling circuit, an evaporator (4) connected to the bottom wall portion of the tank, a compressor (5), and a condenser (7), c) controlling the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator by regulating the vaporizing pressure, so that the temperature of the milk cooling surface (12′) is always higher than 0° C. when the compressor (5) is running, d) monitoring the milk quantity in the tank, and, when sufficient/insufficient for the agitator to work properly.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the cooling of small milk quantities in a cooling tank (2) having a bottom wall portion (12) with a milk cooling surface (12′) within the tank being part of a cooling circuit, an agitator means (19) within the tank for stirring the milk therein. The gist of the invention is: a) providing a means (10) for measuring the milk quantity in the tank, and a temperature transducer (11) for monitoring the milk temperature in the tank, b) providing, in the cooling circuit, an evaporator (4) connected to the bottom wall portion of the tank, a compressor (5), and a condenser (7), c) controlling the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator by regulating the vaporizing pressure, so that the temperature of the milk cooling surface (12′) is always higher than 0° C., whereas the refrigerant temperature in the evaporator (4) is below O° C.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a product comprises a first evaporator and a second evaporator separate from the first evaporator, a first heat exchanger incorporating the first evaporator and a second heat exchanger incorporating the second evaporator. In operation, the product or an intermediate heat transfer medium is cooled in at least two first stages. During the first stage, heat is withdrawn from the product or the medium by the first evaporator cooling the product or the medium to an intermediate temperature. During the second stage, heat is withdrawn from the product or the medium by the second evaporator further cooling the product or the medium to the desired temperature. Since the product or the medium is partially cooled by an evaporator operating at a higher evaporating temperature than required for achieving the desired temperature, an improved energy efficiency is achieved.

Abstract: During a rinsing stage a first quantity of water is accumulated in a buffer reservoir and the tank is rinsed. During a washing stage a second quantity of water is accumulated and the milk tank is washed. A first period of time used for accumulating the first quantity is measured. A second period of time is determined from the measured first period of time and either the first quantity and the second quantity or the ratio between the first quantity and the second quantity. During the washing stage water is supplied during the second period of time. A flexible and reliable method of dosing the second quantity of water essentially independently of the prevailing water pressure is obtained, which does not require a correspondingly large reservoir or any instruments specially provided for measuring the second quantity of water.

Abstract: Cleaning a milk tank includes rinsing the tank with cold water and washing the tank with a warm liquid. During rinsing, the tank is finally rinsed with substantially warmer water than the cold water with which the tank is initially rinsed, the cold water being cold enough to remove milk residues such as proteins, from the milk tank. A dairy farm milk storage facility specifically adapted for carrying out this method is also described. Milk residues such as proteins are effectively rinsed away by the initially used cold water and no energy is consumed for heating this rinsing water. Subsequently the storage tank is gradually, evenly and very effectively pre-warmed by the final rinsing water prior to the washing stage, so less washing water is required to achieve the required washing temperature while thermal stresses occurring in the tank are kept low.