The present invention relates to a distribution system and an item of equipment for treatment of solid material that comprises same, wherein said distribution system comprises a means for transmitting movement that is configured to generate a rotating movement; a distribution element comprising a surface parallel to the feeding means on which at least one rod is arranged, perpendicularly, configured to come into contact with the solid material to be treated; a rotating means which connects the means for transmitting movement to the distribution element, configured to generate a rocking or circular movement; and a means for supporting the distribution element; wherein a first end of the distribution element comprises a means for joining to the rotating means, situated on an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said rotating means, and a second end, opposite to the first end, is accommodated on the supporting means.

Disclosed are methodology and apparatus for freezing the exterior crust of products, such as food products, in a manner that does not cause the exterior of the product to adhere to the surface on which it is placed during or after the freezing.

A variable bi-directional airflow thermal processing system may include a thermal processing medium supply for substantially horizontally supplying thermal processing medium to the thermal processing chamber at a target temperature and velocity and a thermal processing medium directing assembly configured to divide the spiral stack into at least one treatment zone and at least one return zone both extending along a height of the spiral stack and substantially confined within a footprint of the spiral stack, wherein the thermal processing medium supply substantially horizontally supplies thermal processing medium to the at least one treatment zone and substantially horizontally withdraws thermal processing medium from the at least one return zone.

A method and apparatus for evaporative cooling of materials within a vacuum chamber by maintaining a controlled partial pressure environment. The method involves sealing material inside a chamber, reducing the internal pressure using a vacuum pump, and simultaneously introducing external gassuch as ambient air, nitrogen, or inert gasesinto the chamber. A constant partial pressure is maintained by balancing the gas input and vacuum pump operation, allowing for efficient evacuation of vaporized liquid without recondensation. The system can operate with either constant or variable flow rates for both gas input and vacuum pumping, depending on desired cooling conditions, chamber size, and material characteristics. The apparatus includes a sealable vacuum chamber, at least one external gas inlet, and a vacuum pump configured to sustain the target partial pressure.

A system for providing a desired amount of cooling to a quantity of non-liquid conveyable product in a vessel within a given length of residence time including: (A) continuously feeding a mass of the product into, through and out of a vessel, at a rate that provides a predetermined length of residence time, wherein the product is moved through the vessel by engagement thereof with an impeller; and (B) feeding cryogen out of a plurality of nozzle openings directly into or onto the product in the vessel while the impeller is moving the product continuously past the nozzle openings, wherein the cryogen is fed into said non-liquid conveyable product from a sufficient number of nozzle openings to provide the desired amount of cooling to the product within the given period of residence time, and wherein the flow of cryogen out of each nozzle opening is continuous or intermittent.

A cooling drum for freezing granules has an inlet for receiving the granules and an outlet located opposite to the inlet for discharging the granules. The cooling drum for freezing granules includes: a first cylinder part having a first inner surface formed of a first material; and a second cylinder part located closer to the outlet than the first cylinder part and having a second inner surface formed of a second material. The first material has a lower thermal conductivity than that of the second material.