| 摘要 |
An apparatus 10 for chilling food product(s) 16 to at least one of preserve the food, and destroy organisms on the food. The apparatus comprises a housing 12 having a sidewall 15 defining a chamber 14 divided into a plurality of zones 22, 24, 26 and having an inlet 30 at one end and an outlet 32 at another end. Within the chamber are a plurality of spaced heat-flux sensors 36 disposed proximate an inner surface 17 of the sidewall, a plurality of spaced fans 38, a liquid nitrogen (LIN) apparatus 40, 42 providing LIN to the chamber and the food. A controller (48, fig 3) communicates signals between the heat flux sensors, the fans, and the LIN apparatus to reduce the temperature of the food. A conveyer belt 28 transports the food through the zones. The LIN apparatus may comprise a delivery pipe 42 connected to a spray bar 40 with a plurality of nozzles to spray jet streams 46 of LIN onto the food. The controller may control the amount of cooling by actuation of conveyer belt speed, fan speed and supply pressure of LIN discharged. A method for chilling a food product(s) is disclosed. |
