During diverted flow operation, what happens to the HTST regenerator section?

During diverted flow operation, the HTST (High-Temperature Short-Time) regenerator section is bypassed to facilitate quicker startup. This process is crucial for maintaining efficiency and safety within the pasteurization system. By bypassing the regenerator, the system can quickly reach the required operating conditions without waiting for the regenerator to come up to temperature and pressure. This is particularly important when starting up the system after it has been idle, as it allows for a more immediate flow of product, reducing downtime and ensuring that product processing can commence in a timely manner.

In a typical HTST pasteurization process, the regenerator is used to preheat incoming product using heat recovered from the outgoing hot product. However, during a diverted flow condition, the primary goal is often to quickly enable flow through the system while ensuring that pasteurization standards are met. Consequently, the decision to bypass the regenerator offers practical benefits in terms of operational efficiency and temperature management.