CRYOGENIC FOOD PREPARATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A food preparation system includes a plate including a food preparation surface for placing food thereon. A cryogenerator is in thermal connection with the food preparation surface and can cool the food preparation surface to a temperature below 230 K.

Claims

1. A food preparation system comprising: a plate comprising a food preparation surface for placing food thereon; and a cryogenerator in thermal connection with said food preparation surface and operative to cool said food preparation surface to a temperature below 230 K.

2. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator comprises an external heat engine.

3. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator comprises a closed-cycle thermal device.

4. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator comprises a Stirling engine.

5. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator comprises a regenerator.

6. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator operates on a Stirling cycle.

7. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator comprises a thermoacoustic engine.

8. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator moves a working fluid through passages thermally connected to said food preparation surface.

9. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator is operative to cool said food preparation surface to a temperature below 200 K.

10. The food preparation system according to claim 1, wherein said cryogenerator is operative to cool said food preparation surface to a temperature below 100 K.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a food preparation system, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a food preparation system 10, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The food preparation system 10 includes a plate 12, which has a food preparation surface 14 for placing food thereon. The food preparation surface 14 may be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel) or of a material with a poor thermal conductivity (e.g., plastic). A cryogenerator 16 is in thermal connection with the food preparation surface 14 and can cool the food preparation surface 14 to a temperature below 230 K, or below 200 K, or below 100 K, and even below 70 K.

[0014] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention cryogenerator 16 may be an external heat engine or a closed-cycle thermal device. For example, cryogenerator 16 may operate on a Stirling cycle, such as a Stirling engine or a thermoacoustic engine. Cryogenerator 16 may further include a regenerator 18.

[0015] For example, the Stirling engine may typically include a piston, a compression space, an ambient heat exchanger, a regenerator, a low temperature heat exchanger, an expansion space, and a piston. Without limitation, a Stirling engine which may be used to carry out the invention is the dual-opposed, twin piston, linear Stirling Cryocooler K535, manufactured by Ricor of Ein-Harod Israel. This Stirling engine only weighs 9.5 kg and uses just 7 W of power to reach 65 K at an ambient of 23° C., all of which are significant improvements over the prior art.

[0016] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention cryogenerator 16 moves a working fluid 20 (e.g., helium) through passages 22 thermally connected to the food preparation surface 14 (such as channels formed through plate 12 or pipes attached to the bottom of plate 12). The working fluid 20 is permanently contained within the system.