Plant, Equipment and Utilities: Separators and Centrifuges—Applications in the Dairy Industry

Abstract

Centrifuges and separators and their applications in the dairy industry are discussed in this article. The main types of separators used in dairy processing are the disk bowl centrifuge, the decanter centrifuge, the screen-scroll centrifuge, and the cyclone separator. Applications of each are described, with particular emphasis on separating conditions, separation control, and separating efficiency. In dairy processing, the most important application of centrifugation remains the separation of whole milk into skim milk and cream, which is the starting point in the manufacture of many dairy products and ingredients. In this regard, the modern dairy industry would not exist in its current form without centrifugal separation. Further applications of centrifugation and separation include the separation of particulate matter from milk, whey or other streams, and the separation of powder particles from air. Centrifuges and separators play a key role in sustainable dairy processing.