Method for adjusting the dry matter content of concentrates in curd production and device for carrying out the method

A method for adjusting a dry matter content in curd in a device for centrifugally separating a starting product into the curd and whey, wherein the device comprises a nozzle separator, and wherein the method comprises:

• a) feeding the starting product into the nozzle separator of the device via a feed line while determining a content of dry matter or protein of the starting product, and measuring a mass flow of the starting product;
• b) centrifugally separating the starting product by the nozzle separator into a whey fraction and a curd fraction;
• c) separately discharging the whey fraction and the curd fraction from the nozzle separator and measuring a mass flow of the whey fraction discharged from the nozzle separator;
• and
• d) adjusting the mass flow of the starting product as a function of the determined content of dry matter or protein of the starting product, the measured mass flow of the starting product, and the measured mass flow of the whey fraction,
• wherein a determination of the dry matter content or the protein content of the curd fraction is performed based on the measured mass flow of the starting product, the measured mass flow of the whey fraction discharged from the nozzle separator, and the determined dry matter content or protein content of the starting product,
• the method further comprising
• determining a mass flow of the curd fraction in a discharge line based on the measured mass flow of the starting product and th measured mass flow of the whey fraction,
• wherein the mass flows of the starting product introduced into the nozzle separator and of the whey fraction discharged from the nozzle separator are continuously measured, the mass flow of the curd fraction in the discharge line is calculated based on the continuous measurements of the mass flows of the starting product introduced into the nozzle separator and of the whey fraction discharged from the nozzle separator, and wherein the determined mass flow of the curd fraction in the discharge line is used as a value for determining a manipulated variable for automatic and continuous regulation of a feed quantity of the starting product.