Fuente: WIPO "milk" Steam heat is applied to a thin film of milk moving along the surface of vertical plates in a closed container whereby every particle of the milk is heated within a stated time temperature relationship thus protecting the milk constituents from adverse chemical and physical changes. Gear pump 1 delivers milk under pressure into pre heater 2 where it is heated to between 145 F and 165F after which it enters steriliser 4 through pipe 3 to run in a thin film down vertical plates 5 while steam enters the steriliser at 12 and leaves together with objectionable odours at 22. The milk which falls into sump 6 where it acts as a seal must not be raised aboye a temperature of 300F in the steriliser and its rate of flow is so registered that transit takes not less than 1 5 seconds. Electrodes 16 17 and motor M are employed to check the liquid level in sump 6. The sterilised milk passes through three way valve 14 which is controlled by motor M into vacuum chamber 15 where its temperature is instantaneously reduced to below 170F and above 130F pump 20 transporting the milk to a cooler or processing station. A homogenizer may be interposed between the preheating stage 2 and the sterilising stage 4 and using a three way valve circuit may be selectively included in the circuit.