Relating to freezing apparatus
AssigneeBOC Limited
InventorPeter H. Gibson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Frozen solid particles are obtained from liquids such as dairy produce, liquid egg, microbiological cultures and pharmaceuticals, by direct contact with liquid nitrogen in an enclosed insulated vessel which includes nozzles for injection of liquids into conduits with contact channels additionally cooled by countercurrent flow of liquid nitrogen in cooling channels. A separation auger removes partially frozen product from the liquid nitrogen and completes its freezing by contact with cold nitrogen gas.
Claims13
Apparatus for producing solidified particles from a liquid feedstock by direct contact with a refrigerant liquid, which apparatus comprises at least one channeled conduit to convey refrigerant liquid, supply means to convey a flow of liquid feedstock through one or more injection nozzles to one or more channels in the channeled conduit, separation means to remove solidified particles from the refrigerant liquid and recirculation means for separated refrigerant liquid, wherein the channeled conduit comprises one or more contact channels in which the liquid feedstock flows together with the refrigerant liquid and one or more cooling channels in which recirculated refrigerant liquid flows in heat exchange with at least one contact channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.