# US 11,297,847 B2 · Liquid treatment system for concentrating raw milk, and method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,847 B2 - Document ID: US11297847B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/304,197 - Filed: 2017-05-24 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-25 - Assignees: Harm Van Alfsen - Applicants: Harm Van Dalfsen - Inventors: Harm Van Dalfsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297847B2 ## CPC - A23C 9/1427: {by dialysis, reverse osmosis or hyperfiltration, e.g. for concentrating or desalting} - A23C 1/00: Concentration, evaporation or drying (products obtained thereby A23C9/00) - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - B01D 61/08: Apparatus therefor - B01D 2313/24: Specific pressurizing or depressurizing means - B01D 2313/243: Pumps - B01D 2315/14: Batch-systems - A23C: DAIRY PRODUCTS, e.g. MILK, BUTTER OR CHEESE; MILK OR CHEESE SUBSTITUTES; PREPARATION THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B11/00) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A liquid treatment system, in particular for concentrating milk, and method therefor. The system includes an inlet configured to receive fresh raw milk; and a pressure vessel connected to the inlet. 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 is included for filtering the raw milk. A pump is provided for pumping the raw milk under pressure out of the pressure vessel and through or along the reverse osmosis membrane. A permeate outlet is provided for the separated water and a milk outlet is provided for the concentrated milk. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 2, the system further comprising a heat exchanger for maintaining a temperature of the fresh raw milk. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reverse osmosis membrane is provided with passage openings in the range of 0.1-1 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inlet is operatively connected to one or more milking robots. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, the system further comprising a heat exchanger for maintaining a temperature of the fresh raw milk. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a temperature of the raw milk lies in the range of 35-40° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure system is configured to provide a pressure in the range of 10-100 bar to the pressure vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reverse osmosis membrane is provided with passage openings in the range of 0.1-1 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a lobe pump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet is operatively connected operatively to one or more milking robots. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method for concentrating fresh raw milk, comprising: supplying fresh raw milk to a liquid treatment system as claimed in claim 1; pressurizing the system by supplying a gas thereto; carrying the fresh raw milk through the system using the pump; separating water from the fresh raw milk with the reverse osmosis membrane; and separately discharging the separated water and the concentrated milk. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein pressurizing the system comprises supplying an inert gas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising recirculating the milk through or along the reverse osmosis membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the temperature during the treatment lies in the range of 35-40° C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the treatment is performed at a pressure in the range of 10-100 bar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein pressurizing the system comprises supplying an inert gas, the method further comprising recirculating the milk through or along the reverse osmosis membrane, wherein the temperature during treatment lies in the range of 35-40° C.