It is generally required to assess the effects of heat treatment on th
e physical and chemical properties of the components of a particular f
ood system by evaluating the product of concern under continuous flow
conditions, and at the heat treatment levels used in the industry. To
apply continuous heat treatment to various dairy-based fluid systems a
laboratory scale, continuous flow indirect heat exchanger was designe
d. The unit is proven to be easy to construct, calibrate and manipulat
e. Low cost, ease of cleaning and small sample volume requirement make
the unit highly useful for the investigation of the effects of any in
dustrial temperature-time combinations on certain properties of food s
ystems. In addition, the unit can be easily modified to study fouling
of model food systems in continuous flow heat exchangers.