Heat exchange devices (30) and methods of using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides for heat exchange devices (30) that are cooling devices having a double helical coil (32) in a phase-mixing-cooling section, a helical coil (36) in a phase-separation-cooling section, and a back-pressure valve (34) intermediate the two coils (32,36). The cooling devices provide maximum extraction of the heat content from a heated food product using a direct-injected liquid cryogen, and complete separation of the gaseous cryogen phase from the cooled product, while avoiding the formation of a stable foam. Hybrid direct-indirect cooling devices are also provided, as well as methods for using same.

A vessel having an opening for receiving the product and walls surrounding the vessel at all sides except the opening. The interior of the vessel is filled with a fluid having a specific gravity lower than a specific gravity of a medium surrounding the walls outside the vessel. While the vessel is oriented with the opening facing downwards, the vessel and/or product is/are conveyed to ensure that the product enters the interior through the opening.

Disclosed are a disinfection and sterilization apparatus and method for a refrigerated container transportation system. The disinfection and sterilization apparatus comprises a to-be-treated waiting area, a disinfection and sterilization system, a treatment waiting area and a central control system, wherein a first prompter is arranged in the to-be-treated waiting area; the disinfection and sterilization system comprises a disinfection and sterilization bin, a vacuumizing device and an ozone supply device; a disinfection and sterilization bin inlet and a disinfection and sterilization bin outlet are respectively formed in the left side and the right side of the disinfection and sterilization bin; the top of the disinfection and sterilization bin is provided with a detaching and hanging device for detaching or hanging a refrigerated container and a transportation vehicle; a second prompter is arranged in the treatment waiting area; and the central control system is connected with the first prompter, the disinfection and sterilization bin inlet, the disinfection and sterilization bin outlet, the detaching and hanging device and the second prompter through data transmission lines. According to the disinfection and sterilization apparatus and method, a new coronavirus propagation path of cold-chain food in the refrigerated container can be effectively, and particularly, adverse effects of disinfection and sterilization apparatuses on parts such as engines and tires of transportation vehicles in the vacuumizing and ozone injection processes can be avoided.

The efficiency of a device for cooling or heating objects on a belt that moves through a path of a helix, in which gaseous cooling or heating medium is circulated within the device, is improved by positioning fans that circulate the cooling or heating medium so that the fans are distanced from the top of the helix.

A system for placing ice into boxes containing food products and the system includes: a control unit, an ice in-feed device, an ice distribution device configured for receiving ice from the ice in-feed device and for distributing the received ice into the open upper side of the boxes while the boxes pass the ice distribution device. The ice distribution device has an ice width adjuster device for interacting with the received ice prior to distributing the received ice into the open upper side of the boxes while the boxes pass the ice distribution device. The ice width adjuster device is controlled by the control unit using at least one characteristic parameter relating to the boxes including the width of the boxes as a control command in adjusting the width of the width adjuster device.

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 plant for continuously cooling foodstuffs includes a container suitable to receive such foodstuffs continuously moved by a movement member and refrigerant apparatus for cooling such foodstuffs during the movement thereof, the movement member being a pump; the plant includes a spiral duct preferably arranged around the container wherein the pump continuously directs and moves the foodstuffs to be cooled and in which there is directed a cryogenic fluid, along at least two different turns of the spiral duct there being arranged apparatus for injecting of the cryogenic fluid.

A food freezing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a transport unit having multiple vertically spaced levels provided so as to continuously transport food; a cooling unit for cooling the food transported by the multiple levels of the transport unit; a pre-freezing unit for pre-freezing the food transported by the multiple levels of the transport unit after having been cooled; a freezing unit for freezing the food transported by the multiple levels of the transport unit after having been pre-frozen; and a defrosting unit connected to the freezing unit so as to remove frost that forms inside the freezing unit.

A cooler including a compartment, a conduit including a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, food product at a first product temperature entering the first end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with and for supplying fluid through the fluid discharge, the fluid being at a first fluid temperature less than the first product temperature, the pressurized fluid source being operable to propel the fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion and to cool the food product to a temperature below the first product temperature.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel freezing system and a method for producing frozen ingredients, the system and method being such that the amount of free water after defrosting of the frozen ingredients is lower than with conventional freezing. The present invention solves the above problem by providing an ingredient freezing system comprising two or more freezing units for freezing the ingredient, and a transport unit for transporting the ingredient to the two or more freezing units, the two or more freezing units being configured so as to freeze the ingredient in stages so that the ingredient is frozen at progressively lower temperatures as the ingredient is transported on the transport unit.