Continuous heat treatment process for fluid foodstuff passing through duct uses electrodes in duct walls and controlling of surface temperature

摘要

The process consists of creating a flow (1) of a fluid foodstuff (2) inside a duct, subjecting it to volume heating by means of electrodes separated by insulators in the duct walls, and controlling the surface (5) temperature so as to produce an even temperature distribution throughout the product and to limit blocking of the duct. The surface temperature is controlled by cooling the duct, using a circulating low conductivity coolant fluid, and both heating and cooling are carried out in the same section (4). The coolant fluid can be circulated in the same or opposite direction to the flow of the product inside the duct, with the coolant also traversing the electrodes. The temperature of the duct is monitored and controlled by a regulating loop.