GEA's new KDB 3 dairy centrifuge skid for fresh cheese production

For the production of spreadable and spoonable cheeses such as cream cheese, quark, greek yogurt, and skyr, GEA has added the KDB 3 separator as a new member to its GEA PureCon series, which includes self-cleaning separators, clarifying decanters, and a range of nozzle separators of KDB and KDE types. With a capacity of up to 200 kg/h fresh cheese, the KDB 3 is the smallest centrifuge within this range and provides the same high performance as the well-established nozzle centrifuges with larger capacity. The result is an additive-free and high-quality range of consumer products that offer the traditionally known taste and creamy product texture even on a small scale. Supplied on a fully piped and cabled skid, the KDB 3 allows for easy integration and operation from the start and reliable performance throughout the entire production cycle.

Being the only small-scale nozzle centrifuge for fresh cheese concentration on the market, the new KDB 3 provides a capacity of up to 800 kg/h milk for an output of fresh cheese of 15.5 to max 18 % DS and cream cheese "light" of 18 to max 26 % DS – depending on the milk type. The skid, therefore, perfectly fits small-scale production like for specialties or farm-based dairies, for pilot-scale and product development activities, or research and educational purposes.

More than just a centrifuge: concentrated process know-how on a skid

The synchronized setup of centrifuge, sensors and control devices ensures easy operation and consistently high performance. The KDB 3 has a nozzle bowl with a geometrically optimized profile that ensures best-in-class clarification, concentration, and cleaning. The bowl contains a 3D printed segment insert, which eliminates dead spaces and allows for a continuous and guided product flow to the nozzles. The 3D insert thus also enables automatic and more efficient cleaning, which saves cleaning media and eliminates manual, time-consuming cleaning.

A redesigned solids catcher facilitates a uniform and guided product flow to the cheese hopper. To extend the operating time while maintaining constant product quality and prevent negative thermal impact on the product caused by hot surfaces, the solids catcher and the separators' hood are cooled during production. This also prevents product adherence to surfaces using the resulting condensate film.

During the whole process, sterile air is superimposed on the product room via a treatment system, preventing accumulation under the bowl. This prevents contamination with yeasts and molds in all product-carrying spaces, including the solids catcher and cheese hopper, thus increasing product safety.

A range of additional options, clustered in three preconfigured feature packages, "pro", "plus, "and "prime", is available for the new KDB 3 skid, providing an advanced, smart process flow control. Thus, for example, the automatic whey discharge control adjusts the back pressure during separation and activates overflow during cleaning. Another option is the automatic feed control, which ensures both the correct flow rate and thus a homogeneous feed to the machine and a constant dry substance of the discharged cheese. This prevents clogging due to too much feed flow or imbalances due to too less feed flow.

For monitoring the whey quality, a turbidity sensor can be integrated, which indicates when cleaning is required due to decreasing separation efficiency. Another optional feature is a flow meter that monitors the whey flow in relation to the feed flow, allowing a constant nozzle discharge supervision, blocked nozzles can thus be easily recognized. The KDB 3 skid comes standard with a level sensor for the fresh cheese hopper and an optionally available fresh cheese pump, which in combination provide a smooth and continuous product transfer for further processing.

To ensure continuous production by preventing nozzle blockages, either manual filters or automatic filters are used in the product feed, which – depending on the equipment variant – are switched over manually or automatically in the event of a blockage.

To facilitate the selection of the right variant, GEA offers the possibility to run appropriate tests in advance of investment. This can be done either in the Process Test Center at the GEA site in Oelde, Germany or with a test plant at the customer's site. Various financing options and leasing contracts for the plant, including shipping and commissioning, round off the range of services for the new KDB 3 Skid.