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.