Pasteurization system with heat recovery

A pasteurization system comprising:

• a plurality of basins, with said system adapted for effecting in each basin a heating of a product therein to a pasteurization temperature followed by a cooling to a preservation temperature, and arranged for conducting said heating and cooling sequentially from basin to basin whereby as heat is liberated from a basin undergoing cooling, said liberated heat is at least partially utilized to effect heating of another basin, and wherein said system for heating and cooling said plurality of basins comprises;
• a refrigeration circuit having a first part arranged downstream from a compressor for circulating hot fluid therethrough, a second part arranged downstream from an expansion valve for circulating cooled fluid therethrough, heat exchanging means arranged connected between the ends of said first and second parts, a plurality of coils, corresponding to said plurality of basins, each arranged thermally connected with a respective basin and for effecting fluid circulation through each coil, and valve means arranged for selectively connecting each coil of each basin selectively to different parts of said refrigeration circuit to effect one of circulating a hot fluid stream therethrough, circulating a cold fluid stream therethrough, or circulating no fluid stream therethrough, whereby both heating and cooling of each basin is effected by means of the same coil.