Cross-flow spiral heat transfer system for a food product with upper and lower gas flow pathways

摘要

Disclosed is a heat transfer system (10) for refrigeration and/or heating of products. The system includes a housing (12) having an internal chamber (14), a baffle (30), a spiral pathway (50) around the baffle, a gas flow pathway and a blower (22) to circulate gas (25) along the gas flow pathway. The baffle separates the chamber into upper (16) and lower (18) portions. The spiral pathway includes an upper spiral pathway (52) within the upper portion, and a lower spiral pathway (54) within the lower portion. The spiral pathway transports the product from the lower portion to the upper portion of the chamber. The gas flow pathway includes an upper gas flow pathway across the upper spiral pathway and a lower gas flow pathway across the lower spiral pathway in which gas flow in the upper and lower gas flow pathways defines a circulation loop. The width of the upper gas flow pathway and upper spiral pathway are similar, and the width of the lower gas flow pathway and lower spiral pathway are similar. An inlet (20) is provided for introducing fresh cooled or heated gas to the upper pathway, and this gas is directed at the product as it nears an exit of the internal chamber.