RDC Unité Didactique de Fromage Cottage, Contrôlée par Ordinateur (PC)

The Computer Controlled Teaching Cottage Cheese Maker, "RDC", is a unit made of stainless steel AISI 304 with a cover at the top. The tank receives milk the bacteria culture and others additives and temperature in the tank increases. This process produces the precipitation of the proteins of the milk and curd is formed.

The unit has an insulating wall made of stone wool and a water jacket. The function of the jacket is the increment of the temperature for the production of curd and the refrigeration of the unit.

The unit includes two valves (for the water inlet and the water outlet) to fill and empty the jacket with water, and a drain pipe and air outlet to remove air and steam.

The water jacket includes a computer controlled heating element, a temperature sensor and a level switch to guarantee a specific water level inside of jacket.

The temperature and pH of the whey and curd is controlled during the process by a temperature sensor and a pH sensor. A valve situated in the lower side of the tank allows to drain the whey and curd.

The process control is done from the computer using EDIBON control software. This software will allow an automatic control (PID) of the jacket water temperature with the heating element.

This Computer Controlled Unit is supplied with the EDIBON Computer Control System (SCADA), and includes: The unit itself + a Control Interface Box + a Data Acquisition Board + Computer Control, Data Acquisition and Data Management Software Packages, for controlling the process and all parameters involved in the process.