CRYOGENIC PROCESSOR FOR LIQUID FEED PREPARATION OF A FREE-FLOWING FROZEN PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR FREEZING LIQUID COMPOSITION

• Main Authors: JONES, STANLEY, O, JONES, CURT, D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 07.02.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BLASTING; CHEWING GUM; COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; CONFECTIONERY; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; ICE-CREAM; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PREPARATION THEREOF; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; WEAPONS

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.