Development of an Innovative Raw Milk Dispenser Based on Nanofluid Technology

This paper presents the comparative analysis of a traditional raw milk dispenser and an innovative prototype based on nanofluid technology. The traditional raw milk dispenser consists of an off-the-shelf upright air-cooled refrigerator sold on the market, whereas the innovative prototype presents a tank equipped with a serpentine tube jacket operated with Al2O3-ethylene glycol aqueous solution nanofluid. The systems are experimentally analysed in the ambient temperature range of 19-35 degrees C to evaluate the energy performance and the temperature control of the milk tank. The innovative prototype is demonstrated to be superior from the point of view of both energy saving and food safety. In fact, the innovative prototype exhibits a 63-70% energy saving with respect to the traditional one. Furthermore, the prototype distributor is able to reach the "safe" temperature of 4 degrees C in about half of the time required by traditional system and it keeps the milk always in the "safe" temperature range 2-3 degrees C, while the traditional distributor displays locally milk temperature higher than 4 degrees C.