Dynamic modeling of bulk milk cooler

Abstract

Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, South Africa, 1-4 July, 2007.

It is well known fact that operation of many refrigeration systems is dynamic in nature and bulk milk coolers are no exception to this. It is necessary to study bulk milk cooling systems and improve them to reduce chilling time and energy consumption within desired limits. Bulk milk coolers are analyzed and diagnosed with a simple thermodynamic model. A global approach is required whereby detailed component models are linked together to develop an accurate and complete simulation model package of vapour compression bulk milk cooler. These component models include mass, momentum and energy balance equation along with thermo physical property data and the appropriate heat or work transfer relationships. Solving these equations by method of substitution yields a prediction of refrigeration system behaviour. This helps in large reduction in time and cost spent in designing a system for given application, leading to the opportunity of achieving a more optimal design through evaluation of different design configurations. This dynamic model helps in adopting better control strategies to improve energy efficiency. The authors have attempted to develop such a global model for bulk milk coolers using vapour compression system with R22 as refrigerant.