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EP4543194A1 - System for cleaning milking equipment - Google Patents

System for cleaning milking equipment

Info

Publication number
EP4543194A1
EP4543194A1 EP23733083.2A EP23733083A EP4543194A1 EP 4543194 A1 EP4543194 A1 EP 4543194A1 EP 23733083 A EP23733083 A EP 23733083A EP 4543194 A1 EP4543194 A1 EP 4543194A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
dosing
branch line
cleaning agent
flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23733083.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Tomasz GONTARZ
Wojciech SWIATKIEWICZ
Sebastian ZMARZLY
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DeLaval Holding AB
Original Assignee
DeLaval Holding AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DeLaval Holding AB filed Critical DeLaval Holding AB
Publication of EP4543194A1 publication Critical patent/EP4543194A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
    • A01J7/00—Accessories for milking machines or devices
    • A01J7/02—Accessories for milking machines or devices for cleaning or sanitising milking machines or devices
    • A01J7/022—Clean-in-Place Systems, i.e. CIP, for cleaning the complete milking installation in place

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment. Specifically, the invention relates to a cleaning system comprising a control unit configured to control a dosing of different cleaning agents for cleaning the milking equipment.
  • milking equipment In milking systems raw milk from animals (cows) is transported through milking equipment, such as milking units, milk tubes, milk conduits, receiver tanks, valves, milk monitoring equipment and bulk tank(s) for storage.
  • the milking equipment must be cleaned on a regular basis and/or after each milking session.
  • the cleaning includes the removal of unwanted material (milk residues) and the killing of micro-organisms that may multiply at a high rate if not removed on a regular basis.
  • the unwanted material and micro-organisms may contaminate the milk if the milking equipment is not cleaned on a regular basis. It is also necessary to clean the bulk tank after a batch of stored raw milk has been removed and before a new batch of raw milk enters the bulk tank.
  • milking systems include cleaning systems for cleaning the milking equipment on a regular basis and/or between milking operations.
  • a typical cleaning system uses various liquid chemicals, i.e. cleaning agents, such as alkaline and acid detergents as well as disinfectants/sanitizers, along with water, to clean the milking equipment.
  • the cleaning agents may be dispensed in different phases or sequences using one of the detergents (alkaline or acid) or the sanitizer (disinfectant) each mixed with a volume of water and circulated throughout the milking equipment.
  • a rinsing step is typically performed, in which rinsing water is provided through the milking equipment and cleaning system to rinse the system of residuals and/or added cleaning agent.
  • the cleaning agents are dosed via a dispenser including a control unit configured to control a plurality of dosing pumps being connected to separate cleaning agent source containers for each liquid chemical to be used.
  • each cleaning agent liquid chemical
  • each cleaning agent liquid chemical
  • a separate dosing pump through a respective dosing line directly into a cleaning solution buffer vessel from which it is circulated through the milking equipment.
  • Separate dosing pumps and dosing lines are used for each cleaning agent (liquid chemical), to avoid unwanted reactions between the liquid chemicals during the dispensing process. It is important that a proper amount of each cleaning agent (liquid chemical) is supplied during the cleaning process.
  • milk passing through the milk equipment can become contaminated, either by microorganisms or unwanted material including residual liquid chemicals.
  • dosing too much cleaning agent will not just result in a waste of the liquid chemical, but also involves a negative environmental impact and an increased risk of wear on the equipment.
  • the invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment, the cleaning system comprising: a main water supply line for providing water from a water source to a mixing location, a plurality of dosing sources for dosing different cleaning agents to the mixing location, a control unit configured to control the dosing of the different cleaning agents from the plurality of dosing sources, wherein the cleaning system further comprises: a branch line for providing a mix of water and cleaning agent to the mixing location, an inlet end of the branch line being connected to the main water supply line at a distribution point where a portion of the water from the main water supply line is distributed into the branch line, the plurality of dosing sources being connected to the branch line via a respective dosing line, and an outlet end of the branch line being connected to the mixing location, wherein a cleaning agent flow meter is arranged in the branch line downstream of the dosing lines.
  • the arrangement of the branch line improves the accuracy in measurements in the dosing of the cleaning agents, whereby the control of said dosing is also improved to achieve a desired concentration of cleaning agent.
  • the metering of the cleaning agent flow meter will become more reliable, particularly when dosing relatively low quantities of the cleaning agent, because the metering may be made in a linear operating range of the cleaning agent flow meter.
  • flow meters often have an inferior (and non-linear) precision at relatively low flow rates (for instance at flow rates below 0.25 L/min), which may be avoided by the addition of a portion of the water from the main water supply line.
  • the inlet connection to the main water supply line makes it possible to properly rinse the branch line including the flow meter and the connection points of the dosing sources before or after the provision of a cleaning agent.
  • the cleaning agent flow meter is arranged in the branch line downstream of the dosing lines is advantageous as it makes it possible to measure the addition of all the different cleaning agents with the same cleaning agent flow meter.
  • a first valve is arranged in the branch line at or downstream of the distribution point and upstream of the plurality of dosing lines and the cleaning agent flow meter, the first valve being configured to provide a predetermined basic input flow of water to the branch line, the cleaning agent flow meter being configured to measure the flow rate in the branch line, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an added amount of cleaning agent based on the measured flow rate. For example, the added amount of cleaning agent may be determined in comparison to the predetermined basic input flow of water.
  • the first valve may hereby be an electrically or hydraulically operated flow control valve or pressure reducing valve, which is set to provide the desired basic input water flow rate into the branch line.
  • the first valve is configured to close and thereby interrupt the supply of said portion of water into the branch line when the addition of a cleaning agent from one of the dosing sources reaches an upper threshold and/or when the flow rate measured by the cleaning agent flow meter reaches an upper threshold value indicating that the cleaning agent flow meter will operate in its linear operating range regardless of the predetermined basic input flow of water to the branch line.
  • This may be achieved by the control unit being configured to control (close) the first valve when the measured flow rate reaches the upper threshold value. It may also be achieved by the first valve being hydraulically operated to close when the flow rate (dosing of said cleaning agent) reaches the upper threshold.
  • the cleaning agent flow meter will operate in its linear operating range, even without the basic input water flow to the branch line. Furthermore, this embodiment ensures that at relatively high flow rates of the cleaning agent there will be no conflict between a basic water input flow and a pressure build up when a cleaning agent is delivered at such higher flow rates, such as at or above 3 L/min.
  • the first valve may however close off the water supply to the branch line before the flow of cleaning agent reaches such high flow rate values.
  • the first valve may for instance be configured to close at cleaning agent flow rate threshold values in a range of 0.25 - 3 L/min, and preferably in a range of 0.5-1.5 L/min.
  • control unit is configured to control the first valve to allow a water rinsing flow, through the branch line at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from any of the plurality of dosing sources.
  • a second valve is arranged in parallel with the first valve, the control unit being configured to open the second valve to allow a rinsing flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input flow of water, through the branch line at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from any of the plurality of dosing sources.
  • the branch line includes a non-return valve, which is arranged upstream of the dosing lines and arranged to prevent a backflow of cleaning agent into the main water supply line.
  • the non-return valve thereby reduces the risk of the added cleaning agent in the branch line from flowing the wrong way into the main water supply line.
  • a main flow meter is arranged in the main water supply line to measure a main water flow rate upstream of the mixing location, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a concentration of the cleaning agent in the combined water and cleaning agent flow arriving at the mixing location based on the measurements from the main flow meter and the cleaning agent flow meter.
  • the flow rate of water could be known based on a precise regulation of water flow from the water source, such that the main flow meter may be redundant.
  • the embodiment provides a beneficial continuous measurement of the main water flow rate, which not just provides a control measurement of the main water flow rate, but also enables a control of the dosing of the cleaning agent in response to different main water flow rates.
  • the dosing of cleaning agent can be increased/decreased proportionally in response to an increased/decreased main water flow rate as measured by the main flow meter.
  • the cleaning system - in accordance with the invention - makes it possible to provide a correctly concentrated cleaning solution directly from the main water supply line to the mixing location upstream of the milking equipment to be cleaned. Hence, it enables an inline dosing and mixing of the cleaning agent, whereby the cleaning agent is continuously and proportionally mixed with the main water flow.
  • the mixing location may be a mixing manifold connecting the outlet end of the branch line with the main water supply line or a cleaning solution buffer vessel arranged upstream of the milking equipment to be cleaned.
  • the main water supply line comprises a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line, wherein the distribution point is connected to the cold water supply line, wherein the hot water supply line and the cold water supply line are joined downstream of the distribution point to form a tempered main water supply line along which the main flow meter is positioned.
  • the hot water provision is made possible in a manner that keeps the branch line free from hot water, which minimises the negative effects on the branch line that hot water in combination with a high concentration of cleaning agent could have.
  • the output of the branch line is mixed with the flow from the tempered main water supply line downstream of the main flow meter.
  • the complete flow will be comprised of the sum of the flow in the tempered main water supply line and the branch line, and the main flow meter will not be contaminated by the cleaning agents.
  • the output of the branch line is mixed with the flow from the main water supply line at a mixing location in the form of a cleaning solution buffer vessel.
  • the cleaning solution will be prepared and mixed in the cleaning solution buffer vessel, from which the cleaning solution hence will be ready to be provided to the milking equipment to be cleaned.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENTS
  • Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment in a milking system in accordance with the invention is shown.
  • the cleaning system comprises a main water supply line 100 for providing water from a water source 10 to a mixing location 20 at which a cleaning agent is to be mixed into the water for further conveyance to a milking equipment to be cleaned.
  • a plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50 for dosing different cleaning agents to the mixing location 20 are provided.
  • the mixing location 20 is comprised of a cleaning solution buffer vessel, but it may be comprised of anything the brings the water and the dosed cleaning agent together to form a cleaning solution of desired concentration for cleaning the milking equipment.
  • a control unit 60 is configured to control the dosing of the different cleaning agents from the plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
  • the cleaning system comprises a branch line 102 for providing a concentrated mix of water and cleaning agent to the mixing location 20.
  • An inlet end of the branch line 102 is connected to the main water supply line 100 at a distribution point 13, from which a main portion of the water flow from the main water supply line 100 continues in a continuation of the main water line 101 , to which no cleaning agents are added, and a smaller portion of the water flow is supplied into the branch line 102.
  • the dosing sources 30, 40, 50 are connected to the branch line 102 via a respective dosing line 103, 104, 105.
  • a respective pump 31, 41 , 51 is controlled by the control unit 60 and arranged in the respective dosing lines 103, 104, 105 to correctly dose the relevant cleaning agent from the respective dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
  • nonreturn valves 32, 42, 52 are arranged, one per dosing line 103, 104, 105 to make sure that the dosing sources 30, 40, 50 or dosing lines 103, 104, 105 are not contaminated with water or a cleaning agent from a different dosing source.
  • the dosing lines 103, 104, 105 are connected to the branch line 102 at separate connection points 33, 43, 53.
  • the different cleaning agents typically include an alkaline and acid (detergents) as well as a disinfectant (sanitizer), provided to clean the milking equipment, such as milk conduits and bulk tank(s) along with water.
  • the cleaning agents are normally dispensed in a cleaning phase or sequence using either alkaline/acid or sanitizer each mixed with a volume of water and circulated throughout the installation to be cleaned, i.e. the milking equipment.
  • Other cleaning agents may of course also be used in the inventive cleaning system, including multi-component cleaning agents.
  • a cleaning agent flow meter 12 is arranged in the branch line 102 downstream of the dosing lines 103, 104, 105 to measure the supply of the specific cleaning agent from the dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
  • a first valve 21 is arranged in the branch line 102 upstream of the plurality of dosing lines 103, 104, 105 and the cleaning agent flow meter 12.
  • the first valve 21 may be arranged at or downstream of the distribution point 13 and is configured to provide a predetermined basic input water flow to the branch line 102, which basic input water flow is constant without fluctuations.
  • the control unit 60 is hereby configured to determine an added amount of cleaning agent based on the flow measured by the cleaning agent flow meter 12 in comparison to the predetermined basic input flow.
  • the arrangement with a basic input water flow in the branch line 102 will make sure that there is always a certain water flow, typically about 0.25 L/min or more. This ensures that the flow meter will operate in a more accurate metering range, also known as the linear range of the flow meter, whereby the measurement delivered by the cleaning agent flow meter 12 will be more reliable regardless of the current addition of cleaning agent.
  • the first valve 21 may be set to deliver a basic input water flow of 0.25 L/min at a water pressure of 0.1 MPa.
  • the dosing of a cleaning agent reaches above certain threshold level, preferably above 0.25 L/min or in a range of 0.25-3 L/min, and more preferably above 0.5 L/min or in a range of 0.5-1.5 L/min, it is no longer needed to supply the basic input flow of water into the branch line 102.
  • the flow of cleaning agent alone is hereby sufficient for the cleaning agent flow meter 12 to work in its linear operating range allowing it to provide a reliable measurement of the flow in the branch line 102.
  • the basic water flow may have a negative effect on the pressure build up caused by the dosing pumps 31, 41 or 51.
  • control unit 60 in this embodiment is set to close the first valve 21 when any one of the dosing pumps 31 , 41, 51 delivers a flow of detergent or disinfectant at or above a certain threshold value, which is typically in the range of 0.25-3 L/min, and more preferably in the range of 0.5-1.5 L/min, but which can be higher or lower depending on the size of the system and the specifics of the flow meter.
  • the branch line 102 is further provided with a non-return valve 14, which is arranged upstream of the dosing lines 103, 104, 105 and downstream the first valve 21 to make sure that the added cleaning agent from the dosing sources 30, 40, 50 will not contaminate the main water source 10 or flow backwards into the main water supply line 100, 101.
  • An output end of the branch line 102 is connected to the mixing location 20 or upstream of an installation to be cleaned.
  • the installation to be cleaned can be any type of milking equipment or milking system, and within the scope of the invention the mixing location 20 may be a cleaning solution buffer vessel, in which water and a cleaning agent are mixed prior to being circulated through the milking equipment to be cleaned.
  • the invention hence provides the possibility to provide the cleaning solution comprised of mixed water and cleaning agent directly from the mixing location 20 to the milking equipment to be cleaned, since the concentration can be continuously and proportionally controlled at the mixing location 20 at the output end of the main water supply line. Further, as will be described below, the temperature of the mixture at the output end of the main water supply line can also be monitored and controlled.
  • a main valve 23 is arranged in the main water supply line 100 to control the flow of water from the water source 10, and a main flow meter 11 is arranged in the main water supply line 100, wherein the main flow meter 11 is configured to measure the main water flow and provide information on the water flow rate to the control unit 60 as a basis for controlling the dosing of the cleaning agents.
  • a second valve 22 is arranged in parallel with the first valve 21 , wherein the control unit 60 is configured to open the second valve 22 to allow a rinsing water flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input water flow, through the branch line 102 at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being dosed from any of the plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
  • a second embodiment, shown in Fig. 2 is similar to the first embodiment of Fig. 1 , but has some differences to illustrate possible alternatives of the cleaning system within the scope of the invention.
  • the plurality of dosing lines 103, 104, 105 is hereby connected to the branch line 102 via a common manifold 63 instead of separate connection points.
  • the main water supply line 101 and the branch line 102 is in this embodiment interconnected into a combined line 106 at a connection point 17 at the inlet of the mixing location 20 or upstream of the mixing location 20.
  • the water and cleaning agent solution may be satisfactory mixed in the combined line 106 such that the mixing location 20 may rather be formed by the combined line 106.
  • the first valve 21 is a control valve, wherein the control unit 60 may be configured to control the first valve 21 to allow a rinsing flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input flow, through the branch line 102 at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from the plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
  • a main flow meter 11 is arranged in the main water supply line 100, wherein the control unit 60 is configured to control the dosing and thereby determine a concentration in the flow delivered to the mixing location 20 also on the input from the main flow meter 11.
  • the water source includes a cold water source 10 and a hot water source 15.
  • a hot water supply line 200 emanating from the hot water source 15 is arranged to the main water supply line 100 downstream of the distribution point 13 to form a tempered main supply line 300 along which the main flow meter 11 is positioned.
  • a hot-water valve 24 is arranged to control the flow of hot water and a hot cold-water valve 23 is arranged to control the flow of cold water.
  • a thermometer 16 is preferably arranged in the tempered main supply line 300, either as a separate unit or, as here, included in the main flow meter 11.
  • the output of the branch line 102 is mixed with the flow from the tempered main supply line 300 downstream of the main flow meter 11 , such that the total flow provided to the mixing location 20 is the sum of the flow passing the main flow meter 11 and the flow passing the cleaning agent flow meter 12.
  • the output of the branch line 102 is mixed with the flow from the main water supply line 300 in a mixing chamber/location 20 at a cleaning solution buffer vessel 70.
  • the configuration of the system shown in Fig. 4 also enables immediate provision of a correctly dosed and tempered solution from the mixing chamber/location 20 to a milking equipment to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning solution need not be mixed in the cleaning solution buffer vessel, but could be provided directly to the milking equipment to be cleaned.
  • the possibility to start the cleaning operation when the cleaning solution buffer vessel 70 is only partially filled to for instance a low level LL is provided, instead of as is common in the prior art, to wait until the buffer solution vessel is filled to high level HL before the cleaning operation may be started.
  • the output 71 from the cleaning solution buffer vessel 70 is hereby correctly tempered and concentrated from the start, whereby the cleaning solution may be conveyed to the milking equipment quicker than conventional cleaning systems.
  • the control unit 60 is configured to receive a control signal 82 with information about the temperature and the flow from the main flow meter 11 and control signal 81 with information about the flow of cleaning agent at the cleaning agent flow meter 12, thereby enabling the control unit 60 to determine the temperature and the concentration of the solution entering the cleaning solution buffer vessel, such that it may be verified that it may be directly furnished to an installation to be cleaned.
  • the control unit 60 is configured to control the provision of cleaning agent by sending command signals 83, 84, 85 to the respective pump 31, 41, 51 arranged in the respective dosing lines 103, 104, 105 to correctly dose the relevant cleaning agent from the respective dosing sources 30, 40, 50, one at a time. Further, the control unit 60 may also be configured to send command signals (not illustrated) to the first valve 21, to control the input flow to the branch line 102, to the cold-water valve 23 to control the flow of cold water and to the hot water valve 24 to control the flow of hot water. In the embodiment of Fig.
  • the cold-water valve 23 is arranged downstream of the distribution point 13 where a portion of the flow in the main water line 100 is distributed to the branch line 102, which contrasts with the configuration of the embodiment in Fig. 1 where the water valve 23 is arranged upstream of the distribution point 13.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment, the cleaning system comprising: a main water supply line (100) for providing water from a water source (10) to a mixing location (20) at which a cleaning agent is to be mixed into the water for further conveyance to the milking equipment to be cleaned, a plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50) for dosing different cleaning agents, a control unit (60) configured to control dosing of the different cleaning agents from the plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50). Further, the cleaning system comprises: a branch line (102) for providing a mix of water and cleaning agent to the mixing location (20), an inlet end of the branch line (102) being connected to the main water supply line (100) at a distribution point (13), the plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50) being connected to the branch line (102) via a respective dosing line (103, 104, 105), and an outlet end of the branch line (102) being connected to the mixing location (20), wherein a cleaning agent flow meter (12) is arranged in the branch line (102) downstream of the dosing lines (103, 104, 105).

Description

SYSTEM FOR CLEANING MILKING EQUIPMENT
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment. Specifically, the invention relates to a cleaning system comprising a control unit configured to control a dosing of different cleaning agents for cleaning the milking equipment.
BACKGROUND
In milking systems raw milk from animals (cows) is transported through milking equipment, such as milking units, milk tubes, milk conduits, receiver tanks, valves, milk monitoring equipment and bulk tank(s) for storage. The milking equipment must be cleaned on a regular basis and/or after each milking session. The cleaning includes the removal of unwanted material (milk residues) and the killing of micro-organisms that may multiply at a high rate if not removed on a regular basis. Hence, the unwanted material and micro-organisms may contaminate the milk if the milking equipment is not cleaned on a regular basis. It is also necessary to clean the bulk tank after a batch of stored raw milk has been removed and before a new batch of raw milk enters the bulk tank.
Therefore, milking systems include cleaning systems for cleaning the milking equipment on a regular basis and/or between milking operations. A typical cleaning system uses various liquid chemicals, i.e. cleaning agents, such as alkaline and acid detergents as well as disinfectants/sanitizers, along with water, to clean the milking equipment. The cleaning agents may be dispensed in different phases or sequences using one of the detergents (alkaline or acid) or the sanitizer (disinfectant) each mixed with a volume of water and circulated throughout the milking equipment. Before and/or after the provision of each type of cleaning agent a rinsing step is typically performed, in which rinsing water is provided through the milking equipment and cleaning system to rinse the system of residuals and/or added cleaning agent.
Conventionally, the cleaning agents (liquid chemicals) are dosed via a dispenser including a control unit configured to control a plurality of dosing pumps being connected to separate cleaning agent source containers for each liquid chemical to be used. Hence, each cleaning agent (liquid chemical) is pumped by a separate dosing pump through a respective dosing line directly into a cleaning solution buffer vessel from which it is circulated through the milking equipment. Separate dosing pumps and dosing lines are used for each cleaning agent (liquid chemical), to avoid unwanted reactions between the liquid chemicals during the dispensing process. It is important that a proper amount of each cleaning agent (liquid chemical) is supplied during the cleaning process. If the milking equipment is improperly cleaned, milk passing through the milk equipment can become contaminated, either by microorganisms or unwanted material including residual liquid chemicals. In addition, dosing too much cleaning agent will not just result in a waste of the liquid chemical, but also involves a negative environmental impact and an increased risk of wear on the equipment.
In US 6 089242 A, three cleaning agent source containers containing different liquid chemicals are connected via separate conduits to a mix vessel or manifold, which is further connected to a water supply. From the mix vessel or manifold, the cleaning agent and water mixture is pumped to a manifold conduit for further supply to either a clean-in- place line or a milk storage tank to be cleaned. Separate flow meters are arranged in the water supply and in each dosing line from the three cleaning agent source containers to effectively control the concentration of the cleaning agent.
Although separate flow meters are used to control the addition of cleaning agents (liquid chemicals) it has proven difficult to obtain correct concentrations, one challenge being that most flow meters deliver unreliable values at low flow rates and/or have an accuracy that varies with the flow rate, which influences the reliability of the measurement values obtained from the flow meters negatively.
It would therefore be advantageous to achieve a cleaning system overcoming, or alleviating, at least this drawback of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment in which the dosing of cleaning agents (liquid chemicals) may be achieved in an effective and more reliable manner.
According to a first aspect the invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment, the cleaning system comprising: a main water supply line for providing water from a water source to a mixing location, a plurality of dosing sources for dosing different cleaning agents to the mixing location, a control unit configured to control the dosing of the different cleaning agents from the plurality of dosing sources, wherein the cleaning system further comprises: a branch line for providing a mix of water and cleaning agent to the mixing location, an inlet end of the branch line being connected to the main water supply line at a distribution point where a portion of the water from the main water supply line is distributed into the branch line, the plurality of dosing sources being connected to the branch line via a respective dosing line, and an outlet end of the branch line being connected to the mixing location, wherein a cleaning agent flow meter is arranged in the branch line downstream of the dosing lines.
The arrangement of the branch line improves the accuracy in measurements in the dosing of the cleaning agents, whereby the control of said dosing is also improved to achieve a desired concentration of cleaning agent. The metering of the cleaning agent flow meter will become more reliable, particularly when dosing relatively low quantities of the cleaning agent, because the metering may be made in a linear operating range of the cleaning agent flow meter. Namely, flow meters often have an inferior (and non-linear) precision at relatively low flow rates (for instance at flow rates below 0.25 L/min), which may be avoided by the addition of a portion of the water from the main water supply line. Also, the inlet connection to the main water supply line makes it possible to properly rinse the branch line including the flow meter and the connection points of the dosing sources before or after the provision of a cleaning agent.
Further, the fact that the cleaning agent flow meter is arranged in the branch line downstream of the dosing lines is advantageous as it makes it possible to measure the addition of all the different cleaning agents with the same cleaning agent flow meter.
In an embodiment of the cleaning system, a first valve is arranged in the branch line at or downstream of the distribution point and upstream of the plurality of dosing lines and the cleaning agent flow meter, the first valve being configured to provide a predetermined basic input flow of water to the branch line, the cleaning agent flow meter being configured to measure the flow rate in the branch line, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an added amount of cleaning agent based on the measured flow rate. For example, the added amount of cleaning agent may be determined in comparison to the predetermined basic input flow of water. This arrangement provides a further improved possibility of keeping the cleaning agent flow meter in a desired linear operating range, thereby further improving the precision of the measurement. The first valve may hereby be an electrically or hydraulically operated flow control valve or pressure reducing valve, which is set to provide the desired basic input water flow rate into the branch line.
In a further embodiment of the cleaning system, the first valve is configured to close and thereby interrupt the supply of said portion of water into the branch line when the addition of a cleaning agent from one of the dosing sources reaches an upper threshold and/or when the flow rate measured by the cleaning agent flow meter reaches an upper threshold value indicating that the cleaning agent flow meter will operate in its linear operating range regardless of the predetermined basic input flow of water to the branch line. This may be achieved by the control unit being configured to control (close) the first valve when the measured flow rate reaches the upper threshold value. It may also be achieved by the first valve being hydraulically operated to close when the flow rate (dosing of said cleaning agent) reaches the upper threshold. Thereby, the cleaning agent flow meter will operate in its linear operating range, even without the basic input water flow to the branch line. Furthermore, this embodiment ensures that at relatively high flow rates of the cleaning agent there will be no conflict between a basic water input flow and a pressure build up when a cleaning agent is delivered at such higher flow rates, such as at or above 3 L/min. The first valve may however close off the water supply to the branch line before the flow of cleaning agent reaches such high flow rate values. Hence, the first valve may for instance be configured to close at cleaning agent flow rate threshold values in a range of 0.25 - 3 L/min, and preferably in a range of 0.5-1.5 L/min.
In an embodiment of the cleaning system, the control unit is configured to control the first valve to allow a water rinsing flow, through the branch line at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from any of the plurality of dosing sources. This presents an efficient way of rinsing the branch line from chemical residues and possible contaminants before and/or between/after the provision of cleaning agents.
In an embodiment of the cleaning system, a second valve is arranged in parallel with the first valve, the control unit being configured to open the second valve to allow a rinsing flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input flow of water, through the branch line at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from any of the plurality of dosing sources. This presents an alternative, yet efficient way of rinsing the branch line from possible contaminants before and/or after the provision of cleaning agent.
In an embodiment of the cleaning system, the branch line includes a non-return valve, which is arranged upstream of the dosing lines and arranged to prevent a backflow of cleaning agent into the main water supply line. The non-return valve thereby reduces the risk of the added cleaning agent in the branch line from flowing the wrong way into the main water supply line.
In a further embodiment of the cleaning system, a main flow meter is arranged in the main water supply line to measure a main water flow rate upstream of the mixing location, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a concentration of the cleaning agent in the combined water and cleaning agent flow arriving at the mixing location based on the measurements from the main flow meter and the cleaning agent flow meter. As an alternative to a main flow meter the flow rate of water could be known based on a precise regulation of water flow from the water source, such that the main flow meter may be redundant. However, the embodiment provides a beneficial continuous measurement of the main water flow rate, which not just provides a control measurement of the main water flow rate, but also enables a control of the dosing of the cleaning agent in response to different main water flow rates. Thus, the dosing of cleaning agent can be increased/decreased proportionally in response to an increased/decreased main water flow rate as measured by the main flow meter.
The cleaning system - in accordance with the invention - makes it possible to provide a correctly concentrated cleaning solution directly from the main water supply line to the mixing location upstream of the milking equipment to be cleaned. Hence, it enables an inline dosing and mixing of the cleaning agent, whereby the cleaning agent is continuously and proportionally mixed with the main water flow. The mixing location may be a mixing manifold connecting the outlet end of the branch line with the main water supply line or a cleaning solution buffer vessel arranged upstream of the milking equipment to be cleaned. It is hereby possible to continuously provide an in-line dosing and mixing of the correctly concentrated cleaning solution or make sure that the cleaning solution buffer vessel is provided with a correctly concentrated and well-mixed cleaning solution from the initiation of the cleaning process, such that the cleaning solution may be provided from the cleaning solution buffer vessel before said vessel is filled up with a certain amount of cleaning solution. This can also enable the provision of a reduced size on the cleaning solution buffer vessel, since the correctly concentrated cleaning solution is achieved from the beginning of a filling of the vessel, which is based on the reliable flow measurements (even at relatively low flow rates) and not on the amount contained in the cleaning solution buffer vessel.
In an embodiment of the cleaning system, the main water supply line comprises a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line, wherein the distribution point is connected to the cold water supply line, wherein the hot water supply line and the cold water supply line are joined downstream of the distribution point to form a tempered main water supply line along which the main flow meter is positioned. In the milking equipment to be cleaned it is important to provide hot or at least correctly tempered water to achieve a good cleaning result. With this arrangement the hot water provision is made possible in a manner that keeps the branch line free from hot water, which minimises the negative effects on the branch line that hot water in combination with a high concentration of cleaning agent could have.
In a further embodiment of the cleaning system, the output of the branch line is mixed with the flow from the tempered main water supply line downstream of the main flow meter. Thereby, the complete flow will be comprised of the sum of the flow in the tempered main water supply line and the branch line, and the main flow meter will not be contaminated by the cleaning agents.
In an embodiment of the cleaning system, the output of the branch line is mixed with the flow from the main water supply line at a mixing location in the form of a cleaning solution buffer vessel. Thereby, the cleaning solution will be prepared and mixed in the cleaning solution buffer vessel, from which the cleaning solution hence will be ready to be provided to the milking equipment to be cleaned.
Other embodiments and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description and the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Below, specific embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings of which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, and
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a cleaning system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENTS
In Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment in a milking system in accordance with the invention is shown.
The cleaning system comprises a main water supply line 100 for providing water from a water source 10 to a mixing location 20 at which a cleaning agent is to be mixed into the water for further conveyance to a milking equipment to be cleaned. To that end a plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50 for dosing different cleaning agents to the mixing location 20 are provided. In this first embodiment the mixing location 20 is comprised of a cleaning solution buffer vessel, but it may be comprised of anything the brings the water and the dosed cleaning agent together to form a cleaning solution of desired concentration for cleaning the milking equipment.
A control unit 60 is configured to control the dosing of the different cleaning agents from the plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
The cleaning system comprises a branch line 102 for providing a concentrated mix of water and cleaning agent to the mixing location 20. An inlet end of the branch line 102 is connected to the main water supply line 100 at a distribution point 13, from which a main portion of the water flow from the main water supply line 100 continues in a continuation of the main water line 101 , to which no cleaning agents are added, and a smaller portion of the water flow is supplied into the branch line 102.
The dosing sources 30, 40, 50 are connected to the branch line 102 via a respective dosing line 103, 104, 105. A respective pump 31, 41 , 51 is controlled by the control unit 60 and arranged in the respective dosing lines 103, 104, 105 to correctly dose the relevant cleaning agent from the respective dosing sources 30, 40, 50. Further, nonreturn valves 32, 42, 52 are arranged, one per dosing line 103, 104, 105 to make sure that the dosing sources 30, 40, 50 or dosing lines 103, 104, 105 are not contaminated with water or a cleaning agent from a different dosing source. In the shown first embodiment the dosing lines 103, 104, 105 are connected to the branch line 102 at separate connection points 33, 43, 53.
The different cleaning agents typically include an alkaline and acid (detergents) as well as a disinfectant (sanitizer), provided to clean the milking equipment, such as milk conduits and bulk tank(s) along with water. The cleaning agents are normally dispensed in a cleaning phase or sequence using either alkaline/acid or sanitizer each mixed with a volume of water and circulated throughout the installation to be cleaned, i.e. the milking equipment. Other cleaning agents may of course also be used in the inventive cleaning system, including multi-component cleaning agents.
A cleaning agent flow meter 12 is arranged in the branch line 102 downstream of the dosing lines 103, 104, 105 to measure the supply of the specific cleaning agent from the dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a first valve 21 is arranged in the branch line 102 upstream of the plurality of dosing lines 103, 104, 105 and the cleaning agent flow meter 12. The first valve 21 may be arranged at or downstream of the distribution point 13 and is configured to provide a predetermined basic input water flow to the branch line 102, which basic input water flow is constant without fluctuations. The control unit 60 is hereby configured to determine an added amount of cleaning agent based on the flow measured by the cleaning agent flow meter 12 in comparison to the predetermined basic input flow.
Many flow meters deliver unreliable measurements at low flow rates. The arrangement with a basic input water flow in the branch line 102 will make sure that there is always a certain water flow, typically about 0.25 L/min or more. This ensures that the flow meter will operate in a more accurate metering range, also known as the linear range of the flow meter, whereby the measurement delivered by the cleaning agent flow meter 12 will be more reliable regardless of the current addition of cleaning agent. In this embodiment, the first valve 21 may be set to deliver a basic input water flow of 0.25 L/min at a water pressure of 0.1 MPa.
When the dosing of a cleaning agent reaches above certain threshold level, preferably above 0.25 L/min or in a range of 0.25-3 L/min, and more preferably above 0.5 L/min or in a range of 0.5-1.5 L/min, it is no longer needed to supply the basic input flow of water into the branch line 102. The flow of cleaning agent alone is hereby sufficient for the cleaning agent flow meter 12 to work in its linear operating range allowing it to provide a reliable measurement of the flow in the branch line 102. Further, the basic water flow may have a negative effect on the pressure build up caused by the dosing pumps 31, 41 or 51. Therefore, the control unit 60 in this embodiment is set to close the first valve 21 when any one of the dosing pumps 31 , 41, 51 delivers a flow of detergent or disinfectant at or above a certain threshold value, which is typically in the range of 0.25-3 L/min, and more preferably in the range of 0.5-1.5 L/min, but which can be higher or lower depending on the size of the system and the specifics of the flow meter. The branch line 102 is further provided with a non-return valve 14, which is arranged upstream of the dosing lines 103, 104, 105 and downstream the first valve 21 to make sure that the added cleaning agent from the dosing sources 30, 40, 50 will not contaminate the main water source 10 or flow backwards into the main water supply line 100, 101.
An output end of the branch line 102 is connected to the mixing location 20 or upstream of an installation to be cleaned. The installation to be cleaned can be any type of milking equipment or milking system, and within the scope of the invention the mixing location 20 may be a cleaning solution buffer vessel, in which water and a cleaning agent are mixed prior to being circulated through the milking equipment to be cleaned. The invention hence provides the possibility to provide the cleaning solution comprised of mixed water and cleaning agent directly from the mixing location 20 to the milking equipment to be cleaned, since the concentration can be continuously and proportionally controlled at the mixing location 20 at the output end of the main water supply line. Further, as will be described below, the temperature of the mixture at the output end of the main water supply line can also be monitored and controlled.
A main valve 23 is arranged in the main water supply line 100 to control the flow of water from the water source 10, and a main flow meter 11 is arranged in the main water supply line 100, wherein the main flow meter 11 is configured to measure the main water flow and provide information on the water flow rate to the control unit 60 as a basis for controlling the dosing of the cleaning agents.
Further, a second valve 22 is arranged in parallel with the first valve 21 , wherein the control unit 60 is configured to open the second valve 22 to allow a rinsing water flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input water flow, through the branch line 102 at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being dosed from any of the plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
A second embodiment, shown in Fig. 2, is similar to the first embodiment of Fig. 1 , but has some differences to illustrate possible alternatives of the cleaning system within the scope of the invention.
For instance, the plurality of dosing lines 103, 104, 105 is hereby connected to the branch line 102 via a common manifold 63 instead of separate connection points.
Further, instead of providing the water from main water supply line 100, 101 and the cleaning solution from the branch line 102 separately to a mixing location 20 in the form of a cleaning solution buffer vessel, the main water supply line 101 and the branch line 102 is in this embodiment interconnected into a combined line 106 at a connection point 17 at the inlet of the mixing location 20 or upstream of the mixing location 20. Also, the water and cleaning agent solution may be satisfactory mixed in the combined line 106 such that the mixing location 20 may rather be formed by the combined line 106.
In yet an alternative embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 3, a main difference with respect to the first two embodiments is that the first valve 21 is a control valve, wherein the control unit 60 may be configured to control the first valve 21 to allow a rinsing flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input flow, through the branch line 102 at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from the plurality of dosing sources 30, 40, 50.
As described above, a main flow meter 11 is arranged in the main water supply line 100, wherein the control unit 60 is configured to control the dosing and thereby determine a concentration in the flow delivered to the mixing location 20 also on the input from the main flow meter 11.
Yet an alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 4, in which an arrangement for controlling the temperature of the solution delivered to the mixing location 20 is monitored and controlled. The water source includes a cold water source 10 and a hot water source 15.
A hot water supply line 200 emanating from the hot water source 15 is arranged to the main water supply line 100 downstream of the distribution point 13 to form a tempered main supply line 300 along which the main flow meter 11 is positioned. A hot-water valve 24 is arranged to control the flow of hot water and a hot cold-water valve 23 is arranged to control the flow of cold water. Further, a thermometer 16 is preferably arranged in the tempered main supply line 300, either as a separate unit or, as here, included in the main flow meter 11.
In this embodiment the output of the branch line 102 is mixed with the flow from the tempered main supply line 300 downstream of the main flow meter 11 , such that the total flow provided to the mixing location 20 is the sum of the flow passing the main flow meter 11 and the flow passing the cleaning agent flow meter 12.
Further, the output of the branch line 102 is mixed with the flow from the main water supply line 300 in a mixing chamber/location 20 at a cleaning solution buffer vessel 70. The configuration of the system shown in Fig. 4 also enables immediate provision of a correctly dosed and tempered solution from the mixing chamber/location 20 to a milking equipment to be cleaned. Hence, the cleaning solution, need not be mixed in the cleaning solution buffer vessel, but could be provided directly to the milking equipment to be cleaned. However, it is often desired to provide a cleaning solution buffer vessel 70 in which the cleaning solution is buffered before it is circulated through the installation to be cleaned. By providing a correctly concentrated and tempered cleaning solution to the cleaning solution buffer vessel 70, the possibility to start the cleaning operation when the cleaning solution buffer vessel 70 is only partially filled to for instance a low level LL is provided, instead of as is common in the prior art, to wait until the buffer solution vessel is filled to high level HL before the cleaning operation may be started. The output 71 from the cleaning solution buffer vessel 70 is hereby correctly tempered and concentrated from the start, whereby the cleaning solution may be conveyed to the milking equipment quicker than conventional cleaning systems.
The control unit 60 is configured to receive a control signal 82 with information about the temperature and the flow from the main flow meter 11 and control signal 81 with information about the flow of cleaning agent at the cleaning agent flow meter 12, thereby enabling the control unit 60 to determine the temperature and the concentration of the solution entering the cleaning solution buffer vessel, such that it may be verified that it may be directly furnished to an installation to be cleaned.
The control unit 60 is configured to control the provision of cleaning agent by sending command signals 83, 84, 85 to the respective pump 31, 41, 51 arranged in the respective dosing lines 103, 104, 105 to correctly dose the relevant cleaning agent from the respective dosing sources 30, 40, 50, one at a time. Further, the control unit 60 may also be configured to send command signals (not illustrated) to the first valve 21, to control the input flow to the branch line 102, to the cold-water valve 23 to control the flow of cold water and to the hot water valve 24 to control the flow of hot water. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the cold-water valve 23 is arranged downstream of the distribution point 13 where a portion of the flow in the main water line 100 is distributed to the branch line 102, which contrasts with the configuration of the embodiment in Fig. 1 where the water valve 23 is arranged upstream of the distribution point 13.
Above, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. The invention is however not limited to these embodiments. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning system for cleaning milking equipment, the cleaning system comprising: a main water supply line (100) for providing water from a water source (10) to a mixing location (20) at which a cleaning agent is to be mixed into the water for further conveyance to a milking equipment to be cleaned, a plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50) for dosing different cleaning agents, a control unit (60) configured to control the dosing of the different cleaning agents from the plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50), characterised in that the cleaning system further comprises: a branch line (102) for providing a mix of water and cleaning agent to the mixing location (20), an inlet end of the branch line (102) being connected to the main water supply line (100) at a distribution point (13) where a portion of the water from the main water supply line (100) is distributed into the branch line (102), the plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50) being connected to the branch line (102) via a respective dosing line (103, 104, 105), and an outlet end of the branch line (102) being connected to the mixing location (20), wherein a cleaning agent flow meter (12) is arranged in the branch line (102) downstream of the dosing lines (103, 104, 105).
2. The cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein a first valve (21) is arranged in the branch line (102) at or downstream of the distribution point (13) and upstream of the plurality of dosing lines (103, 104, 105) and the cleaning agent flow meter (12), the first valve (21) being configured to provide a predetermined basic input flow of water to the branch line (102), the cleaning agent flow meter (12) being configured to measure the flow rate in the branch line (102), wherein the control unit (60) is configured to determine an added amount of cleaning agent based on the measured flow rate.
3. The cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein the first valve (21) is configured to close and thereby shut off the supply of water into the branch line (102) when the addition of a cleaning agent from one of the dosing sources (30, 40, 50) reaches an upper threshold and/or when the flow rate measured by the cleaning agent flow meter (12) reaches an upper threshold value indicating that the cleaning agent flow meter (12) will operate in its linear operating range regardless of the predetermined basic input flow of water to the branch line.
4. The cleaning system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (60) is configured to close the first valve (21) during addition of a cleaning agent from one of the dosing sources (30, 40, 50) when the flow measured by the cleaning agent flow meter (12) reaches a threshold indicating that the cleaning agent flow meter (12) operates in linear operating mode.
5. The cleaning system according to any one of the claims 2-4, wherein the control unit (60) is configured to control the first valve (21) to allow a water rinsing flow, through the branch line (102) at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from any of the plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50).
6. The cleaning system according to any one of the claims 2-4, wherein a second valve (22) is arranged in parallel with the first valve (21), the control unit (60) being configured to open the second valve (22) to allow a rinsing flow, which is greater than the predetermined basic input flow of water, through the branch line (102) at a time when none of the cleaning agents is being added from any of the plurality of dosing sources (30, 40, 50).
7. The cleaning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the branch line (102) includes a non-return valve (14), which is arranged upstream of the dosing lines (103, 104, 105) and arranged to prevent a backflow of cleaning agent into the main water supply line (100).
8. The cleaning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a main flow meter (11) is arranged in the main water supply line (100, 200, 300) to measure a main water flow rate upstream of the mixing location (20), wherein the control unit (60) is configured to determine a concentration of the cleaning agent in the combined water and cleaning agent flow arriving at the mixing location (20) based on measurements from the main flow meter (11) and the cleaning agent flow meter (12).
9. The cleaning system according to claim 8, wherein the main water supply line (100, 200) comprises a hot water supply line (200) and a cold water supply line (100), the distribution point (13) being connected to the cold water supply line (100), wherein the hot water supply line (200) and the cold water supply line are joined downstream of the distribution point (13) to form a tempered main water supply line (300) along which the main flow meter (11) is positioned.
10. The cleaning system according to claim 9, wherein the output of the branch line (102) is mixed with the flow from the tempered main water supply line (300) downstream of the main flow meter (11). The cleaning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the output of the branch line (102) is mixed with the flow from the main water supply line (100, 300) at a mixing location (20) in the form of a cleaning solution buffer vessel (70).
EP23733083.2A 2022-06-21 2023-06-13 System for cleaning milking equipment Pending EP4543194A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE2250758 2022-06-21
PCT/SE2023/050591 WO2023249535A1 (en) 2022-06-21 2023-06-13 System for cleaning milking equipment

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6089242A (en) 1998-02-10 2000-07-18 Babson Bros. Co. Dairy harvesting facility wash system
WO2015171067A1 (en) * 2014-05-09 2015-11-12 Delaval Holding Ab Cleaning system and method for an automatic milking system

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