Question

Type of pump used to generate high pressure in a homogenizer

• A. Centrifugal type pump
• B. Screw type pump
• C. Plunger type pump
• D. Diaphragm type pump

Hint:

Positive-displacement reciprocating plunger pumps are the only pump design capable of generating the steady, ultra-high pressures (up to 300 bar) required for industrial dairy homogenization.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
High-pressure homogenizers require steady fluid pressures (typically 15 to 30 MPa or 150 to 300 bar) to force milk through the narrow homogenizer valve gap.
Generating these high pressures requires specific pump designs.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The pressure required for homogenization cannot be achieved using standard kinetic pumps:
1. Centrifugal pumps: These are kinetic pumps that are suitable for high flow rates at low-to-medium discharge pressures, but they cannot generate the high pressures required for homogenization.
2. Rotary positive displacement pumps (such as screw pumps): These are useful for handling viscous fluids at moderate pressures, but they cannot withstand or generate pressures up to 30 MPa.
3. Plunger pumps: Homogenizers utilize reciprocating, positive-displacement plunger pumps.
These pumps feature heavy-duty, high-precision stainless steel plungers that move back and forth within a pump block.
One-way suction and discharge valves control the direction of flow.
As the plungers move, they apply force to a constant volume of liquid.
Because liquids are nearly incompressible, this positive displacement generates the high pressures required to force the milk through the restricted valve gap.
Most industrial homogenizers use three, five, or seven plungers (triplex, quintuplex, etc.) to minimize pressure pulsations and ensure a steady flow.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, a plunger type pump is used to generate high pressure in a homogenizer.