Closed processing system and method for treating elongated food products

A closed processing system for treating elongated food products, comprising:

• a housing bounding a process space, with a feed opening arranged in the housing and a discharge opening arranged in the housing for respectively carrying elongated food products into the process space and discharging elongated food products from the process space;
• a transport path for displacing the elongated food products through the process space;
• at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow in the process space;
• and
• at least one detector for detecting process conditions in the process space,
• wherein the detector includes at least one pressure sensor for detecting the relative airflow pressure in the process space compared to the ambient air pressure, and
• wherein the system is arranged to control the process conditions by adjusting the at least one airflow generator based on the detected process conditions.

A method for treating elongated food products, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing elongated food products to be treated;
• b) carrying the provided elongated food products into a process space of a closed processing system;
• c) generating an airflow in the process space;
• d) discharging the treated elongated food products from the process space,
• e) detecting process conditions in the process space;
• and
• f) controlling the process conditions in the process space,
• wherein step e) includes detecting the relative airflow pressure in the process space compared to the ambient air pressure and wherein the method further comprising the step of:
• adjusting the speed of the generated airflow in step f) based on the detected relative airflow pressure in step e).