ULTRAFAST FOOD FREEZING EQUIPMENT BY DIRECT CONTACT WITH DOSED LIQUID NITROGEN
First Claim
1. An equipment for ultrafast food freezing by liquid nitrogen comprising:
- a. A phases separator,b. A dispensing zone for liquid nitrogen,c. Dispensing control means,d. A transporter to carry the material to be frozen towards/from the equipment,e. A tunnel type cold chamber, andf. A vent for nitrogen gas to the atmosphere,wherein the liquid nitrogen from a tank is fed to the phases separator at atmospheric pressure;
the gas phase is vented to atmosphere and liquid nitrogen is fed and maintained in an isolated container under atmospheric pressure, in the dispensing zone before it is dispensed on the product to be frozen;
flow of liquid nitrogen from the tank to the product to be frozen is carried out through a plurality of nozzles by simple gravity effect and controlled by control means allowing dosing the amount of liquid nitrogen to be dispensed;
liquid nitrogen is dispensed directly on the product to be frozen, preferable confined in its final packing, which once the liquid nitrogen is dispensed, is transported outside the dispensing zone through a transporter covered by isolation material to produce a tunnel type cold chamber in which the remaining nitrogen around the product is gasified to produce a cold atmosphere;
finally, at the end of the cold chamber, nitrogen gas is vented to atmosphere and the product follows its process of packing and storing.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is related to an ultrafast freezing equipment for food contained in a packing with multiple cavities, for public sale, by applying a liquid nitrogen trickle, in an amount enough to produce an ultrafast freezing of food. Liquid nitrogen is dispensed from a container at atmospheric pressure, vacuum isolated, through a plurality of nozzles, by gravity, into the center of the upper surface for each cavity, producing short-time immersion in the individual cavity. Nitrogen gas produced is used to make a practically oxygen-free atmosphere, cold enough to maintain the freezing process after dispensing. The process diminish the amount of liquid nitrogen required as compared to other freezing processes, as well as personnel, facilities and physical space needed for install and operate it, reducing the associated costs.
21 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An equipment for ultrafast food freezing by liquid nitrogen comprising:
-
a. A phases separator, b. A dispensing zone for liquid nitrogen, c. Dispensing control means, d. A transporter to carry the material to be frozen towards/from the equipment, e. A tunnel type cold chamber, and f. A vent for nitrogen gas to the atmosphere, wherein the liquid nitrogen from a tank is fed to the phases separator at atmospheric pressure;
the gas phase is vented to atmosphere and liquid nitrogen is fed and maintained in an isolated container under atmospheric pressure, in the dispensing zone before it is dispensed on the product to be frozen;
flow of liquid nitrogen from the tank to the product to be frozen is carried out through a plurality of nozzles by simple gravity effect and controlled by control means allowing dosing the amount of liquid nitrogen to be dispensed;
liquid nitrogen is dispensed directly on the product to be frozen, preferable confined in its final packing, which once the liquid nitrogen is dispensed, is transported outside the dispensing zone through a transporter covered by isolation material to produce a tunnel type cold chamber in which the remaining nitrogen around the product is gasified to produce a cold atmosphere;
finally, at the end of the cold chamber, nitrogen gas is vented to atmosphere and the product follows its process of packing and storing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification