METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING FLOW OF A PUMPABLE SUBSTANCE

摘要

An apparatus and method for pressure processing a pumpable substance. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a pressure vessel having an inlet port to receive the pumpable substance and an outlet port to remove the pumpable substance. The inlet and outlet ports can be sealed with movable internal valves. Each of the valves can include a purging fluid channel that terminat es in a purging zone located between two seals positioned on the valve. Purging fluid can be pumped through the channel and into the purging zone to create a fluid barrier between a pressurized portion of the pumpable substance and an y unpressurized or only partially pressurized portion of the pumpable substanc e. The purging fluid may also sanitize the purging zone and may remove unpressurized or under-pressurized pumpable substance from the purging zone.