Apparatus and method to treat dairy products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a processing apparatus, in which a dairy product is heated, dried, disinfected and/or pasteurized, sterilized. The present invention further relates to a method to treat a dairy product with radio-frequency wave

Claims

1. Processing apparatus, in which a dairy product is pumped by a pump through a microwave chamber and thereby heated, dried, disinfected, pasteurized and/or sterilized, wherein the processing apparatus comprises at least one solid-state radio frequency source.

2. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microwave chamber is at least essentially transparent for microwaves.

3. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one solid-state radio frequency source is a multitude of solid-state radio frequency sources that are provided in an array of n columns and m rows, wherein n is an integer >1 and m is an integer 1.

4. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one solid-state radio frequency source is a multitude of solid-state radio frequency sources that are provided equidistantly around the circumference of a product chamber.

5. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus comprises an inlet and an outlet, which are spaced apart from each other.

6. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pump transports the dairy product past the solid-state radio frequency source.

7. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus comprises a control system to control the solid-state radio frequency source and/or the pump.

8. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus comprises a sensor that measures at least one property of the dairy product and/or one property of a radiation reflected from the dairy product, wherein a signal of the sensor is utilized by a control system.

9. Processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus is part of a dairy product production line.

10. Method to treat a dairy product with radio-frequency waves, wherein the radio-frequency waves are provided with one or more solid-state radio frequency source(s).

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the dairy product is transported from an inlet to an exit which are spaced apart.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the dairy product is transported continuously and or intermittently.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein one or more sensors are provided which measure one or more properties of the dairy product and/or radiation reflected from the dairy product.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein a signal of the one or more sensors is utilized to control the solid-state radio frequency source(s) and/or a pump which transports the dairy product past the solid-state radio frequency source(s).

15. Method according to claim 10, wherein the dairy product is heated, dried, disinfected and/or pasteurized, sterilized.

Description

[0032] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIGS. 2a-2c show a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] A first embodiment of a solid-state RF energized microwave apparatus is depicted in FIG. 1a, which comprises a multiple solid-state RF sources 2 which among other things each comprises a waveguide 16 and/or an antenna 17. In the present case, the inventive apparatus comprises a multitude of solid-state RF sources 2, which are provided at the circumference of a product chamber 14 and preferably, equidistantly around the circumference of the of the product chamber. The number of sources 2 in circumferential direction can depend on the efficiency, of the microwaves to heat up product 11 evenly, measured for example the temperature rise per unit of time. The solid-state RF sources 2 are located in a chamber 15, in the present case defined by housing 8. The housing 8 can be similar to a Faraday cage to prevent electromagnetic waves coming out of the housing. At least inner wall 9 but preferably the entire housing 8 can be made of steel, for instance stainless steel. Inside the chamber 15 and/or inside the housing 8, a product chamber 14, here a microwave tube 12 is provided, which separates the product chamber 14 from the chamber 15, in which the solid-state RF sources 2 are located. The tube material is preferably at least partially, more preferably completely transparent for the microwave energy supplied by the solid-state RF sources 2 and more preferably do not absorb microwave energy and will therefore not be heated up by the microwave energy but, if any, only heated up by the warmed-up product without the build-up of deposit on the inner wall of the tube. To effectively convert the microwave energy into increased temperature of the dairy product to be heated, the material of the tube 12 is not metal, but certain plastic materials and/or quartz-materials are suitable, which are more preferably food grade. The dairy product 11 is located within the product chamber 14 and will be treated, preferably heated by one preferably multiple solid-state sources 2 located in chamber 15. This embodiment is, for example, preferred in case cleaning agents used to clean product chamber 14 may not be come in contact with the solid-state sources 2. The tube 12 can also be used to direct the product past the solid-state RF sources 2. In this case, the product touches the inner circumference of tube at least locally. If needed, the chamber 15, which surrounds the tube 12 may be cooled to cool the RF-sources.

[0035] FIGS. 2a-2c depicts a first application of the solid-state RF energized microwave apparatus in a line. A mass supply system 3, here a hopper or a pipe, for example comprising a positive displacement pump 2 which forces the dairy product 4, preferably through a supply section 5, to a microwave section part 6 of the inventive apparatus 1 and from there the heated mass 4 is discharged via discharge section 7. The dairy product can be transported continuously or intermittently. The flow can be controlled depending on the residence time needed to achieve a certain temperature rise in the dairy product. The tube via which the food mass is pumped may comprise means to mix the product, for example a static- and/or dynamic mixers. There may be a or multiple sensor(s) provided to measure, for example, the temperature rise. FIG. 2b depicts the arrangement of the solid-state RF heat sources 2, here in four rows A, B, C and D. Each row comprises a multitude of, preferably equidistantly, arranged solid-state radio frequency sources, wherein here, the rows are staggered relative to each other. A cross-sectional view of row B of the microwave section 6 is depicted in FIG. 2c and can be similar as depicted in the embodiment according to FIG. 1a. In order to further optimize the heat distribution to the mass flow and to prevent both cold-spots and hot-spots, the number of cylindrical solid-state radio frequency source arrangements, here rings, can be increased in number, from here four to >four.

[0036] For all embodiments above the design of housing 8 is not limited to a circular design as depicted in FIG. 1a but can be shaped differently as depicted in FIG. 1b. Important is that heat treatment of product 11 or mass 4 will not adversely affected by the bouncing microwaves via inner wall 9 of housing 8.

[0037] For all embodiments depicted above the design of microwave tube 12 is not limited to a circular design but can be shaped differently. Especially in case a mass 4 flows through the tube as depicted in FIG. 1a circular design is advantageous with respect to pressure distribution. Preferably inner wall 13 should be provided with smooth walls in order to reduce shear forces on the food mass and to facilitate cleaning. Microwave tube 12 is preferably a fixed part within the depicted assembly and is isolated with respect to housing 8 and solid-state RF energy sources 2 which would be advantageous with respect to hygiene. Cleaning of the microwave tube can be done manually but preferably by an integrated CIP system.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0038] 1 processing apparatus, industrial processing apparatus [0039] 2 solid-state RF energy source [0040] 3 mass supply system, [0041] 4 dairy product [0042] 5 supply section, entrance [0043] 6 microwave section, treatment section [0044] 7 discharge section [0045] 8 housing. [0046] 9 inner wall housing 8 [0047] 10 conveyor means [0048] 11 product, food product [0049] 12 microwave chamber, microwave tube [0050] 13 inner wall microwave tube 12 [0051] 14 product chamber [0052] 15 solid-state source chamber [0053] 16 waveguide [0054] 17 antenna [0055] 18 cooling unit [0056] 19 - [0057] 20 exit [0058] 21 inlet [0059] 22 pump [0060] A solid-state RF energy source [0061] B solid-state RF energy source [0062] C solid-state RF energy source [0063] D solid-state RF energy source