A continuous retort

An apparatus for heat treatment of a product, by a heat treatment liquid, in particular food product, and especially food product in a container such as a can, glass bottle or plastic container, tray or pouch, the apparatus comprising a Loading Section, a First Treatment Section, the First Treatment Section having a wall defining a generally horizontally deployed small-diameter pressure vessel within which Product is heat-treated, a Transfer Section, a Second Treatment Section, the Second Treatment Section having a wall defining a generally horizontally deployed small-diameter pressure vessel within which Product is cooled, and an Unloading Section adjacent to said Loading Section the pressure vessel having no doors or gate valves;

• multiple Product Carriers moving sequentially through the various sections for retaining product during treatment pushed by a propelling means;
• a Product Carrier being so shaped to create a fractional drop in pressure of heat treatment fluid,
• multiple Product Carriers of sufficient number in each Treatment Section such that said fractional pressure drops cumulatively equal the total pressure drop across said Treatment Section eliminating the need for gate valves or pressure doors, the apparatus including restraining means insertable between Product Carriers as successive loading and unloading pistons return for a Product Carrier;
• a Product carrier including through apertures to provide water channels surrounding Product being heat treated and direct water onto a Product surface;
• pumps, heat exchangers, valves, manifolds, and conduits within which heat treatment fluids are transported between different locations within said Treatment Sections.