The product arrives to a balance tank and is pumped to a plate heat exchanger. It is heated to a pasteurizing temperature that depends on the type of food product and/or process requirements. Next, the product passes through the holding tube that ensures the correct pasteurization by holding the product at the required temperature for the specified period of time.
If the heat exchanger has a regeneration stage, the treated product is used to preheat the feed material, losing heat in the process, this, reducing the energy required to reach the pasteurizing temperature and in reducing the cooling required. Finally, the product is cooled to 4°C for cold filling or storage in isothermal tanks.
If, due to any problem, the pasteurizing temperature is lower than the required one, an automatically operated flow divert valve sends the product back to the balance tank, thus, preventing any microbial contamination of the final product.
