UHT Milk Processing—Effect on Process Energy Requirements

Energy requirements for processing milk using a free falling film steam infusion ultra-high temperature (UHT) sterilization process and a high temperature-short time (HTST) pasteurization process were determined and compared. Product flow rate was 2500 kg/hr. Milk to milk regeneration was used with both processes. UHT process temperatures were 138, 143, 149, and 154°C. The energy requirements for the UHT and HTST processes ranged between 573 and 667 kJ/kg milk and 217 and 228 kJ/kg milk, respectively. Although the UHT process consumed between 345 and 450 W/kg milk additional energy in the plant, the UHT sterilization of milk has been estimated to result in a net energy savings of 547 - 652 kJ/kg milk because the product does not require post-processing refrigeration.