Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Dairy plants require significant amounts of energy to run processing equipment, provide steam for heating, and run refrigeration systems to cool and store milk.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Milk must be cooled to \(4\ ^\circ\text{C}\) immediately after milking, kept cold during transport, and cooled again after pasteurization.
Additionally, finished products like butter, cheese, and ice cream must be stored in cold rooms or blast freezers.
Because of this constant need for cooling, the refrigeration system (which includes ammonia compressors, chilled water pumps, and condenser fans) is the largest consumer of electricity on the farm.
Energy audits show that the refrigeration plant typically contributes \(40\%\) to \(50\%\) of the total electrical load of a dairy plant.
Implementing energy-saving measures in the refrigeration system, such as using ice-bank silos or optimizing condenser performance, can significantly reduce the overall electricity cost of the plant.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The refrigeration plant contributes approximately 40 to 50% of the total electrical load in a dairy plant.