Abstract: It may correspond to the demand for cost reduction of the heating treatment apparatus including heating medium generating apparatus capable of generating a heat processable heating medium foods with disclosed high quality. Further, it is to realize energy savings, the shortening of the apparatus manufacturing process and time and weight. [Means to dissolve] comprising the exterior body 5 having a insulation; a far-infrared radiation heater 11 disposed in the exterior body 5; the heat exchange pipe 13 provided with water supply unit 18 and a water discharger 19, arranged from one end to the other end of the exterior body 5, and the heating medium supplied water passes through the inner space thereof; and first reflecting member 23 for reflecting far-infrared radiation rays radiated from the far-infrared radiation heater 11 and enabling to reflect it to the heat exchange pipe 13.

Abstract: A granulating method is a method in which powder containing a water-soluble component is granulated. In the disclosed granulating method, a dispersion element, wherein fine water droplets are dispersed in superheated steam, is expelled from a nozzle, and thus the dispersion element and powder in a flowing state come into contact with one another. It is preferable that the mass ratio of superheated steam contained in the dispersion element, as a mass ratio found from the theoretical flow amount of superheated steam expelled from the nozzle, and the actual flow amount of water supplied to the nozzle, be set in a range of 20-70 mass %.

Abstract: Provided are a method and device for generating a steam heating medium, the method involving generating, from a nozzle, Aqua-gas or low-temperature superheated steam that is a steam heating medium by operating an electrothermal-type generator or a steam-type generator. The method comprises the step of generating Aqua-gas by increasing a water supply amount in such a manner that an internal nozzle pressure takes on a constant value exceeding a saturated water vapor pressure of water at each internal nozzle pressure set temperature; or generating low-temperature superheated steam by reducing the water supply amount in such a manner that the internal nozzle pressure does not exceed the saturated water vapor pressure of water at each internal nozzle pressure set temperature, in a relational expression relating to a flow rate of water vapor sprayed from the nozzle, and given by Expression 1 or Expression 2, as prescribed in the present invention.