Quick freeze pallet racks with variable louvered doors

A pallet rack for a thermal processing facility, comprising:

• an array of pallet seats adjacent to a plenum;
• a frame in between at least one pallet seat and the plenum, the frame surrounding an opening to the plenum having an upper section and a lower section, the frame comprising an engagement point receiving a louver comprising a pivot associated with a plate, the pivot being inserted into the engagement point, wherein the louver plate is oriented to span the upper section of the opening;
• and
• a flexible side sheet extending away from the frame, wherein, upon introduction of airflow toward the frame, the side sheet is adapted to conform to a shape corresponding to the vertical profile of a pallet of goods;
• wherein the plate comprises a first section at an obtuse angle to a second section, wherein a lever arm extends from the first section;
• wherein the louver is biased by the lever arm to a closed position inhibiting airflow through the upper section of the opening;
• wherein the louver plate is rotatable about the pivot to an open position allowing airflow through the upper section of the opening.

A blast freezer system for a thermal processing facility, comprising:

• a pallet rack assembly comprising an array of pallet seats adjacent to a plenum, the pallet rack assembly having a depth corresponding to the thickness of a single pallet to facilitate freezing of products on the pallet;
• an air handler positioned adjacent to the plenum operating to draw freezing air through the pallet seats into the plenum;
• a frame separating at least one pallet seat from the plenum, the frame surrounding an opening to the plenum and comprising a plurality of engagement points for receiving a plurality of louvers, wherein each louver comprises a pivot associated with a plate, the pivots being positioned in the engagement points of the frame;
• wherein the louver plates are oriented to span horizontal sections of the opening;
• wherein the louvers are biased to a closed position inhibiting airflow through the opening near the horizontal sections spanned by the louver plates;
• wherein the louvers are pressable to rotate the louver plates about their respective pivots to an open position allowing airflow through the opening near the horizontal sections spanned by the louver plates;
• wherein each of the louvers are rotatable about their respective pivots independent of the rotation of the other louvers of the plurality of louvers such that a pallet carrying palletized goods pressed against the louvers only exposes the opening to a height corresponding to the height of the palletized goods, thereby directing airflow through the palletized goods and into the plenum;
• wherein the at least one pallet seat comprises flexible side sheets extending away from the frame, wherein, upon introduction of airflow toward the frame, the side sheets are adapted to conform to a shape corresponding to the vertical side profiles of the palletized goods, thereby increasing airflow through the palletized goods.