Cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product and method for freezing liquid composition
US6000229A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C1/00
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product incorporates a gas diffusion chamber that inhibits freezing of a droplet producing feed assembly and pre-cools liquid droplets during the production of the free-flowing frozen product. This is accomplished by providing a regulated flow of ambient air about the feed assembly in conjunction with a vacuum assembly which is used to remove excess refrigerant vapor from the gas diffusion chamber. The vacuum assembly is incorporated into the gas diffusion chamber between the feed assembly and a freezing chamber. The gas diffusion chamber also provides additional physical separation between the feed assembly and the freezing chamber to allow for pre-cooling of the falling liquid composition droplets prior to contacting liquid refrigerant in the freezing chamber therebelow. Additionally, the shape of the processor has been adapted to reduce refrigerant requirements and improve overall production efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.