Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) processing of milk involves heating milk to temperatures of \( 135^\circ\text{C} \) to \( 150^\circ\text{C} \) for a few seconds to achieve commercial sterility.
At these high temperatures, milk would boil and flash evaporate if kept at atmospheric pressure.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
To prevent boiling, fouling, and structural damage to the heat exchanger plates or tubes during UHT processing, the system must be operated under high internal pressure.
The saturation pressure of water at \( 140^\circ\text{C} \) is approximately \( 3.6\text{ bar} \) absolute.
To provide a safety margin and ensure that the milk remains completely in the liquid phase without any boiling, the internal operating pressure inside the UHT heat exchanger is maintained at a higher level, typically in the range of 6 to 8 bar (or \( 90 \) to \( 120\text{ psi} \)).
Therefore, option 3 represents the correct pressure range.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The highest internal pressure required for a UHT heat exchanger is 6 - 8 bar.