Liquid treatment system for concentrating raw milk, and method therefor

A liquid treatment system for concentrating raw milk, the system comprising:

• an inlet configured to receive fresh raw milk;
• a pressure vessel connected to the inlet, wherein the pressure vessel is provided with a pressure system configured to realize a pressure of at least 10 bar in the pressure vessel;
• a reverse osmosis membrane for filtering the raw milk;
• a pump for pumping the raw milk under pressure out of the pressure vessel and through or along the reverse osmosis membrane;
• a recirculation line from an outlet of the reverse osmosis membrane to the pressure vessel for returning concentrated milk to the pressure vessel;
• and
• a permeate outlet for receiving separated water from the reverse osmosis membrane therethrough and a milk outlet coupled between the pressure vessel and the reverse osmosis membrane for receiving concentrated milk therethrough;
• wherein the pressure vessel, the reverse osmosis membrane, the pump and the recirculation line are all configured to be pressurized to a system pressure of at least 10 bar during operation via the pressure system;
• wherein the milk outlet is coupled to a discharge tank, and a valve is disposed in the milk outlet, and
• wherein the system is configured to, while discharge of concentrated milk from the discharge tank is being carried out, isolate the discharge tank from the pump, the pressure vessel and the recirculation line to allow the discharge tank to be brought to ambient pressure while maintaining the pressure vessel, the reverse osmosis membrane, the pump and the recirculation line at the system pressure of at least 10 bar.