Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Milk processing plants utilize various pumps to move raw, pasteurized, and concentrated products through heat exchangers, filters, and storage tanks.
Pumps are selected based on the viscosity of the fluid, flow rate requirements, and hygiene standards.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In an HTST pasteurization plant, raw milk must be transferred continuously from the balance tank through the regeneration and heating sections.
A sanitary centrifugal pump is typically selected as the primary milk transfer pump for this task.
Centrifugal pumps are well-suited for low-viscosity liquids like fluid milk, providing high flow rates under moderate pressure heads.
They are easy to clean in place (CIP) and are designed to avoid sanitary dead spots.
Positive displacement pumps (such as rotary lobe, screw, or piston pumps) are used in pasteurizers as timing or metering pumps to maintain a precise flow rate.
However, for general fluid milk transfer within the pasteurizer circuit, the centrifugal pump is the standard industrial choice.
Step 3: Final Answer
The correct option is (D).