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DOI: 10.15507/2658-4123.26363.578-594

UDK 621.56:620.91

 

Heat Transfer Efficiency during Heating Milk in a Solar Collector-Plate Heat Exchanger System

 

Yuri B. Gerber
Dr.Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of the Department of Technology and Equipment for Production and Processing of Livestock Products, V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (4 Vernansky Ave., Simferopol 295007, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3224-6833, Researcher ID: B-6690-2019, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alexey P. Verbitsky
Cand.Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Department of Technology and Equipment for the Production and Processing of Livestock Products, V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (4 Vernansky Ave., Simferopol 295007, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8578-1288, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Abstract
Introduction. Processing agricultural raw materials requires significant energy cost that makes up a significant part of the finished product cost. Optimizing the product heating system with a heat transfer fluid in a plate heat transfer unit will allow achieving a rational balance between heating rate and energy efficiency that will help to improve economic indicators of production.
Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at determining the dependences of the temperature of the being heated liquid on the temperature and flow rate of the heat transfer fluid, and at identifying the optimal ratio of the heat transfer fluid flow rate and being heated liquid to achieve maximum heat transfer efficiency.
Materials and Methods. A tubular solar collector and a laboratory plate heat transfer unit connected by pipelines and appropriate hydraulic fittings were used to study the process of heating liquid with a heat transfer fluid. The studies were conducted at fixed flow rates of the being heated liquid (milk) (3.5, 4.25 and 5.0 l/min), and a variable heat transfer fluid flow rate (0.80–3.5 l/min), incoming from the solar collector. As a criterion for the efficiency of the heat transfer unit system, there was used the heat transfer coefficient ko, which is defined as the ratio of the temperature difference between the being heated liquid (milk) and the temperature differential of the heat transfer fluid.
Results. There have been considered the process of the interaction between a heat transfer fluid and a being heated liquid (milk) in a plate heat transfer unit operating in pairs with a solar heating module. The outlet product temperature depends proportionally on the flow rate and temperature of the heat transfer fluid. The greatest increase in efficiency is observed when the ratio of the heat transfer fluid flow rate and being heated liquid flow rate (Qhc/Ql) is increased from 0.5 to 0.75. A further increase in the ratio to 1.0 leads to a smaller increase in efficiency, while an increase above 1.0 results in a slight increase in efficiency.
Conclusion. As a result of the conducted study and data processing, there has been found that the optimal ratio Qhc/Ql for energy efficiency is 0.7...1.0, which minimizes energy consumption for the supply (pumping) of the heat transfer fluid while ensuring a high (more than 75%) heat transfer coefficient. The results can be applied in the design and operation of energy-efficient systems for heat transfer fluid supply in the agro-industrial sector. The use of solar energy is economically feasible for low-potential thermal processes and preheating for further high-temperature processing (pasteurization).

Keywords: heat exchange efficiency, solar collector, plate heat exchanger, heat transfer coefficient, renewable energy, heliosystem

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Gerber Yu.B., Verbitsky A.P. Heat Transfer Efficiency during Heating Milk in a Solar Collector-Plate Heat Exchanger System. Engineering Technologies and Systems. 2026;36(3):578–594. https://doi.org/10.15507/2658-4123.26363.578-594

Authors contribution:
Yu. B. Gerber – oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution including mentorship external to the core team, ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims, validation, writing – review and editing.
A. P. Verbitsky – conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the experiments evidence collection, formal analysis, verification, whether as a part of the activity or separate, of the overall replication / reproducibility of results / experiments and other research outputs.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 29.10.2025;
revised 22.01.2026;
accepted 09.02.2026

 

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