Blast chiller apparatus and a method to sanitize a blast chiller apparatus

Blast chiller apparatus according to claim from 1, wherein said chilling circuit (6) is provided with a heat pump assembly (7) comprising refrigerant compressing means (10);

• a bypass channel (19) which is interposed between the refrigerant-outlet of the refrigerant compressing means (10) and the refrigerant-inlet of said first heat exchanger (8);
• and valve means (20) arranged along said bypass channel (19) for connecting, based on a command, the refrigerant-outlet of the refrigerant compressing means (10) to the refrigerant-inlet of the first heat exchanger (8);
• said control system (15) being configured to control said valve means (20) to defrost said first heat exchanger (8).

Blast chiller apparatus according to claim from 1, wherein said defrost system (12) comprises electric heating means (21) associated with said first heat exchanger (8);

• said control system being configured to control said electric heating means (21) to defrost said first heat exchanger (8).

Method to sanitize a blast chiller apparatus (1) comprising a chilling chamber (3) structured for housing food to be cooled/frozen, a chilling circuit (6) comprising at least a first heat exchanger (8) designed to rapidly cool/freeze the chilling chamber (3);

• a defrost system (12) designed to defrost said at least first heat exchanger (8);
• and at least an UV source (14) designed to irradiate with ultraviolet radiations the inner space of said chilling chamber (3);
• the method comprising the step of controlling the defrost system (12) to heat the first heat exchanger (8) so as to have the temperature of the chilling chamber (3) within a prefixed optimum temperature range of operating of said UV source (14).

Method according to claim from 11, comprising the steps of:

• measuring the temperature inside of said chilling chamber (3);
• switching-on said UV source (14) to generate ultraviolet radiations when said measured temperature falls in said prefixed optimum temperature range.

Method according to claim from 11, wherein said prefixed optimum temperature range is between about 30° C. and 50° C. and/or said prefixed sanitizing temperature range is between about 60° C. and 80° C.