| 摘要 |
The liquid food is formed into droplets, which fall under gravity through a set path. A gas heats them below their melting point. Hardened pellets are collected at the end of the path. An Independent claim is included for corresponding equipment. Preferred Features: The gas flows within the cross section of the column, in counter-current. The gas, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide and/or air, is recirculated. No structural components are contacted by the drops during their free fall. Gas temperature is less than -40 degrees C over the entire path. The gas supply temperature is below -60 degrees C, and on extraction from the path, is less than 120 degrees C. Salient equipment features include the column (3) itself, a compressor, heat exchanger and throttle for the gas. The gas can be made by evaporation from the liquid state. The droplet head (2) is an assembly of equidistant nozzles and can be heated. Gas is introduced uniformly around the tube, through a tangential channel. The tube is insulated and may be double-walled with evacuated interspace. |
