Abstract: Homogenizing pressures are reduced by providing three homogenizing valves in series. The addition of a holding chamber between the first and second stages which provides a dwell time in the order of seconds can further reduce the pressure requirements or improve product quality for a given pressure.

Abstract: A homogenizer comprises a homogenizing valve mounted to a pump block. The pump has multiple plungers housed in a set of pump chambers formed through a surface of the pump block. Sets of suction valves and discharge valves are positioned in valve bores formed through the block intersecting the pump chambers. During homogenization, each plunger reciprocates in a pump chamber to draw fluid through a suction valve and the pump chamber and discharge that fluid through a discharge valve and subsequently to the homogenizing valve. The homogenizer has a plurality of seals located along its fluid flow path and positioned to have a surface exposed directly to the fluid. As such, the homogenizer is characterized by the absence of recessed seals along the fluid flow path and provides an internal geometry in which microorganism growth and fluid residue buildup are minimized.