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8 UHT Processing

UHT treatment involves pumping milk through a closed system where it is preheated, heated to 135-150C for a few seconds, homogenized, cooled, and aseptically packed. There are two main UHT systems - direct systems where product contacts the heating medium and indirect systems where heat transfers through a partition. Direct steam injection systems inject steam directly into the product to instantly heat it to 140C for flash cooling and sterilization. Indirect systems use plate, tubular, or scraped surface heat exchangers to transfer heat without direct contact. UHT saves time, labor, energy and space compared to traditional sterilization methods.

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Zacky Husada Achmad
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431 views

8 UHT Processing

UHT treatment involves pumping milk through a closed system where it is preheated, heated to 135-150C for a few seconds, homogenized, cooled, and aseptically packed. There are two main UHT systems - direct systems where product contacts the heating medium and indirect systems where heat transfers through a partition. Direct steam injection systems inject steam directly into the product to instantly heat it to 140C for flash cooling and sterilization. Indirect systems use plate, tubular, or scraped surface heat exchangers to transfer heat without direct contact. UHT saves time, labor, energy and space compared to traditional sterilization methods.

Uploaded by

Zacky Husada Achmad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UHT=Ultra High Temperature

Processing
Hydrostatic vertical steriliser
Horizontal steriliser
UHT advantage
Temperature/time curves for in-
container sterilisation and UHT
UHT Treatment
In a modern UHT plant the milk is pumped through a closed
system. On the way it is preheated, highly heat treated,
homogenised, cooled and packed aseptically.
Low-acid (pH above 4.5 for milk more than pH 6.5) liquid
products are usually treated at 135 150C for a few
seconds, by either indirect heating, direct steam injection
or infusion.
High-acid (pH below 4.5) products such as juice are
normally heated at 90 95C for 15 30 seconds.
All parts of the system downstream of the actual highly
heating section are of aseptic design to eliminate the risk of
reinfection.
UHT advantage
Compared with traditional sterilisation in
hydrostatic towers
UHT-saves time, labour, energy and space
UHT is a high-speed process.
UHT has much less effect on the flavour of the
milk.
UHT systems
There are two main types of UHT systems on the
market.
In the direct systems the product comes in direct
contact with the heating medium, followed by flash
cooling in a vacuum vessel and eventually further
indirect cooling to packaging temperature.
The direct systems are divided into:
steam injection systems (steam injected into
product), figure 9.12
steam infusion systems (product introduced into a
steam-filled vessel),figure 9.13.
In the indirect sytems the heat is transferred
from the heating media to the product through a
partition (plate or tubular wall).
The indirect systems can be based on:
plate heat exchangers, figure 9.14
tubular heat exchangers, figure 9.15
scraped surface heat exchangers, figure 9.16
Furthermore it is possible to combine the heat
exchangers in the indirect systems according to
product and process requirements.
Direct UHT plant based on steam injection
and plate heat exchanger

In the flowchart in figure 9.17 the product at


about 4C is supplied from the balance tank (1)
and forwarded by the feed pump (2) to the
preheating section of the plate heat exchanger
(3). After preheating to approximately 80C the
product pressure is increased by the pump (4) to
about 4 bar and the product then continues to
the ring nozzle steam injector (5). The steam
injected into the product instantly raises the
product temperature to about 140C (the
pressure of 4 bar prevents the product from
boiling).
Direct UHT plant based on steam injection
and plate heat exchanger

The product is held at UHT temperature in the holding


tube (6) for a few seconds before it is flash cooled.
Flash cooling takes place in the condenser-equipped
expansion chamber (7) in which a partial vacuum is
maintained by a pump (8). The vacuum is controlled so
that the amount of vapour flashed off from the
product equals the amount of steam previously
injected. A centrifugal pump (9) feeds the UHT treated
product to the aseptic two-stage homogeniser (10).
Direct UHT plant based on steam injection
and plate heat exchanger

After homogenisation the product is cooled to


approximately 20C in the plate heat exchanger (3)
and then continues directly to an aseptic filling
machine or to an aseptic tank for intermediate
storage before being packed. The cooling water used
for condensation is routed from the balance tank
(1b) and after leaving the expansion chamber (7) it is
utilised as pre-heating medium after having passed a
steam injector. At pre-heating the water temperature
drops to about 11C; it can thus be used as coolant
for the product coming from the homogeniser.
Direct UHT plant based on steam injection
and tubular heat exchanger

In case of temperature drop during production


the product is diverted into a reject tank after
additional cooling. Simultaneously the plant is
flushed by water. Following rinsing with water
the plant is cleaned (CIP) and sterilised before
restart.
Plants with capacities of 2 000 30 000 l/ h
are available.

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