CRYOGENIC PROCESSOR AND METHOD FOR LIQUID FEED PREPARATION OF A FREE-FLOWING FROZEN PRODUCT

摘要

A cryogenic processor (10) for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product incorporates a gas diffusion chamber (46) that inhibits freezing of a droplet producing feed assembly (40) and pre-cools liquid droplets (56) during the production of the free-flowing frozen product. This is accomplished by providing a regulated flow of ambient air about the feed assembly (40) in conjunction with a vacuum assembly (30) which is used to remove excess refrigerant vapor from the gas diffusion chamber (46). The vacuum assembly (30) is incorporated into the gas diffusion chamber (46) between the feed assembly (40) and a freezing chamber (12). The gas diffusion chamber (46) also provides additional physical separation between the feed assembly (40) and the freezing chamber (12) to allow for pre-cooling of the falling liquid composition droplets (56) prior to contacting liquid refrigerant in the freezing chamber (12) therebelow. Additionally, the shape of the processor has been adapted to reduce refrigerant requirements and improve overall production efficiency.