Initial quick freeze pan for direct refrigerant contact cooler

摘要

The initial quick freeze (IQF) pan includes a horizontal baffle plate about which liquid freezant is recirculated continuously in a flow path having a lower reversely directed portion, a semi-circular intermediate portion, and an upper forwardly directed portion terminating at a sharp crested weir adjacent which the freezant flow divides, the relatively high velocity freezant surface layer passing over the crest of the weir while the lower main body of freezant is recirculated into the lower reversely directed flow path portion. Food particles are dropped into the freezant as it flows along the upper forwardly directed flow path portion and are carried by the relatively high velocity freezant surface layer over the crest of the weir.