Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The regeneration section of a pasteurizer operates as a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger.
It uses the heat already present in processed milk to warm the incoming unprocessed milk.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In plate heat exchangers used for milk pasteurization, the plates are arranged in distinct sections: regeneration, heating, holding, and cooling.
In the regeneration section, cold raw milk (the product to be heated) flows on one side of the stainless steel plates.
The heating medium flowing on the adjacent channel is hot pasteurized milk (the product to be cooled) exiting the holding tube.
As both liquids flow in opposite directions, heat is transferred through the plates from the hot pasteurized milk to the cold raw milk.
This design eliminates the need for utility mediums like hot water or steam in this specific section.
Hot water and saturated steam are only utilized in the final heating section of the pasteurizer.
Therefore, hot milk is the medium used to heat raw milk in the regeneration section.
Step 3: Final Answer
The correct option is (C).