Milk and Milk Products Technology

CREAM SEPARATION

When milk is allowed to enter the separator at controlled speed by the float, milk flows down through the central inlet of the axis and is uniformly distributed by the milk distributor. Milk will be subjected to tremendous force and moves towards the periphery as well as rises upwards through the holes in the disc. Denser skim  milk towards periphery and lighter cream at the centre builds up as two columns separated by thin zone of diffusing composition. At the level with the upper disc, skim milk outlet is located and skim milk is collected through skim milk spout. The cream still moves upwards and drains off through the cream outlet cum screw in to cream spout. The lightest column of cream rich in fat will be close to the axis of rotation and further proceeds outward with reduced fat content. Thus, moving the cream screw towards the centre will allow cream with high fat content or thicker cream to flow out and vice versa.  The fat loss in skim milk increases with collection of high fat cream. Thus based on the purpose; the position of the cream screw can be adjusted.