What primarily controls the flow rate of an HTST pasteurizer?

The flow rate of a High-Temperature Short-Time (HTST) pasteurizer is primarily controlled by the speed of the timing pump. This pump is responsible for moving the product through the pasteurization system at a specified rate, ensuring that the product is heated to the required temperature for the necessary duration. The design of an HTST pasteurizer relies heavily on maintaining exact flow rates to achieve effective pasteurization, which kills harmful microorganisms without compromising product quality.

While other elements in the system, such as the temperature recorder and pressure differential controller, play significant roles in monitoring and maintaining conditions during pasteurization, they do not directly control the flow rate. The divert valve is typically used to route the flow based on various operational conditions, but again, it does not set the flow rate itself. The timing pump’s operation directly influences how much product is processed over a given time, thereby controlling the overall flow rate.