Application of Solar Water Heating System for Pasteurization of Milk

India is among the fastest growing dairy nation in the world. With increase in population and enhancement in lifestyle of people, demand for the dairy and food products is increasing day by day. In dairy processing plant milk and milk products are subjected to various unit operations to maintain its quality till consumption. Among various heat treatments the main operation is pasteurization in which steam required is 0.3 kg/l of milk. Traditionally, fossil fuels are utilized to generate heat to produce steam/hot water and are subsequently used as a heating medium in plate heat exchanger. Burning of these fossil fuels contribute to pollution as well as to green house gases resulting into global warming. If solar heated water is used for fully or partially, it would maintenance of eco balance and reduce the cost of fuel charges and pollution. In the dairy and food processing industry the tubular heat exchangers are very important and widely used for heating and cooling purpose of wide varieties of liquids food materials. In the present investigation solar water heating system assisted shell and tube heat exchanger is used pasteurization of milk.