US 11,832,629 B2
Tandem evaporation-drying methods and systems for making powdered milk-derived products
Neill Burt, Denver, CO (US); Mark Cramer, Parker, CO (US); Jiancai Li, Englewood, CO (US); and Richard Merrill, Highlands Ranch, CO (US)
Assigned to Leprino Foods Company, Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Leprino Foods Company, Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/945,304.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/914,155, filed on Oct. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0106016 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B01D 1/18 (2006.01); A23C 1/04 (2006.01); A23C 1/12 (2006.01); A23C 1/14 (2006.01); A23C 9/18 (2006.01); A23C 1/01 (2006.01); B01D 1/24 (2006.01); B01D 1/14 (2006.01); B01D 1/22 (2006.01); A23C 9/16 (2006.01)
CPC A23C 1/12 (2013.01) [A23C 1/01 (2013.01); A23C 1/04 (2013.01); A23C 9/16 (2013.01); A23C 9/18 (2013.01); B01D 1/14 (2013.01); B01D 1/222 (2013.01); B01D 1/24 (2013.01); B01D 1/18 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a powdered milk product, the method comprising:
providing an aqueous milk-sourced mixture;
evaporating water from the aqueous milk-sourced mixture with a wiped-film evaporator to produce an evaporated milk-sourced mixture having a total solids concentration of 35 wt. % or more; and
heating an atomization gas to a temperature of 400° F. to 1000° F.;
contacting the evaporated milk-sourced mixture with the heated atomization gas in a drying chamber to dry and atomize the evaporated milk-sourced mixture and wherein drying and atomizing the evaporated milk-sourced mixture forms the powdered milk product, wherein the powdered milk product has less than 6 wt. % water, a bulk density of 0.3 g/mL to 0.8 g/mL, and an angle of repose ranging from 5° to 40°,
wherein the powdered milk product is selected from the group consisting of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, micellar casein, one or more galacto-oligosaccharides, and one or more aldobionate products.