Abstract: An impingement plate atomizer apparatus includes an electrostatically charged longitudinal member having an upper surface sized and shaped to receive a liquid cryogen thereon, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and at least one hole extending through the longitudinal member; an ultrasonic transducer in contact with the longitudinal member for providing ultrasonic energy thereto for atomizing the liquid cryogen into an electrostatically charged cryogen fog. A method is also provided for providing an electrostatically charged cryogen fog.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing electrostatically charged cryogen fog to a product includes an injection tube having a chamber therein for receiving a cryogenic substance introduced into the chamber and to be provided to the product, a first inlet in communication with the chamber for providing the cryogenic substance to the chamber, an electrostatic device in communication with the chamber for charging the cryogenic substance with a charge opposite to a charge of the product, and an outlet in communication with the chamber and through which the charged cryogenic substance is exhausted to be attracted to the product for adhesion thereto. A method of providing an electrostatically charged nitrogen fog to a product is also provided.

Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus for a product includes a housing having an internal chamber; a solid conveyor belt disposed within the internal chamber and arranged in a spiral configuration having upper and lower portions, the spiral configuration including an upper pathway within the upper portion, a lower pathway within the lower portion; a gas flow having an upper gas flow across the upper pathway, a lower gas flow across the lower pathway and in counter-flow to the upper gas flow, wherein the upper gas flow and the lower gas flow define a circulation loop; and a gas circulation device to induce the upper and lower gas flows along the circulation loop.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a flow rate of a two-phase fluid flowing within a conduit includes a chamber having at least one transparent wall in fluid communication with the conduit; a high-speed imaging system in visual communication with the at least one transparent wall; a thermocouple and a pressure transducer for obtaining a temperature value and a pressure value of the two-phase fluid flowing within the conduit; and a processor for determining the flow rate of the two-phase fluid by analyzing the images obtained by the high-speed imaging system, and from the temperature and pressure values for the two-phase fluid flowing within the conduit. A process is provided for determining the flow rate of a two-phase fluid flowing within the conduit.

Abstract: A cryogenic fog generator is provided which includes a container having an interior in which liquid cryogen is disposed; an opening in the container from which the liquid cryogen can flow from the interior out of the container; a surface area upon which the flow of liquid cryogen is received; an ultrasonic transducer disposed proximate the opening for coacting with the surface area to transmit ultrasonic energy to the surface area and the liquid cryogen for providing a cryogenic fog. A method of producing a cryogenic fog is also provided.

Abstract: An exhaust system for generating power includes a conduit in communication with a first atmosphere having a first temperature and through which said first atmosphere can flow, the conduit having an inner surface exposed to said first atmosphere and an exterior surface exposed to a second atmosphere having a second temperature external to the conduit; a thermoelectric power generating assembly mounted to the exterior surface of the conduit, said power generating assembly responsive to a temperature difference between the first and second atmospheres for providing electrical power.

Abstract: A product support surface for a conveyor belt includes a pair of side links spaced apart by a rod connected therebetween; and a longitudinal member attached to the rod between the pair of side links, the longitudinal member having a surface to support a product thereon during a conveying mode and to be pivoted with respect to the pair of side links during a cleaning mode.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a base recipe for a product introduced into a processor, includes providing a base recipe used by the processor on the product, identifying at least one parameter of the base recipe to be altered to compensate for at least one corresponding physical parameter of the product discharged from the processor, automatically changing the base recipe in response to the at least one altered parameter to compensate for the at least one physical parameter of the product discharged, and processing new product introduced into the processor with the changed base recipe.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a cryogenic freezer and a mechanical refrigerator, wherein the mechanical refrigerator includes an enclosure containing an atmosphere, the cryogenic freezer includes a cryogen exhaust conduit, and a heat pipe heat exchanger including a warm end and a cold end, wherein the heat pipe heat exchanger is in heat transfer relationship with the mechanical refrigerator and the cryogenic freezer such that the warm end of the heat pipe heat exchanger contacts the atmosphere within the mechanical refrigerator enclosure, and the cold end of the heat pipe heat exchanger is disposed within the cryogen exhaust conduit of the cryogenic freezer. A refrigeration process includes cooling an atmosphere within a mechanical refrigerator by exposing the atmosphere to a warm end of a heat pipe heat exchanger, wherein a cold end of the heat pipe heat exchanger is disposed within an exhaust duct of a cryogenic freezer.

Abstract: A freezer for reducing the temperature of product is provided which includes a controller in communication with and for receiving signals from the cryogen delivery assembly, the cryogen flow assembly, the conveyor, the product measurement assembly and the first heat sensor, the controller responsive to the signals for controlling the cryogen flow assembly to provide an amount of the cryogen to the cryogen delivery assembly for application to the product.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a housing having a top, a bottom, first and second opposed sides, and containing an atmosphere; a conveyor apparatus including a self-stacking, self-supported, spiral conveyor belt and a drive mechanism, wherein the conveyor belt includes a plurality of tiers and is at least partially disposed within the housing such that the conveyor belt can travel within the housing from the bottom towards the top of the housing or from the top towards the bottom of the housing; and an atmosphere circulation apparatus having at least one blower in communication with the atmosphere for circulating at least a portion of the atmosphere within the housing from proximate the first opposed side to the second opposed side and back towards the first opposed side, wherein the portion of the atmosphere circulated passes over the conveyor belt in a crossflow manner at least once.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing temperature of items includes an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet for the items within the enclosure; a conveyor for conveying the items within the enclosure from the inlet to the outlet; one or more delivery nozzles positioned to deliver gaseous cryogen and liquid or solid cryogen at supersonic velocity to the items on the conveyor. The apparatus delivers supersonic gaseous cryogen and fine liquid cryogen droplets onto the surface of food items to cool or freeze the food items.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and related method for a thermoacoustic refrigeration system are provided, which includes a warm end of the heat exchanger, a cryogen passing through the warm end to remove heat generated by a thermoacoustic wave generator, and a cool end through which a cooling medium passes to be cooled by the heat transfer at the warm end, wherein cryogenic gas is exhausted from the warm end, and a cooling gas is exhausted from the cool end at a lower temperature than a temperature of the warm end.

Abstract: Apparatus and method embodiments for reducing the temperature of a product include a housing having a chamber therein, and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber; a plurality of zones in the chamber between the inlet and the outlet and arranged in descending order of heat transfer rate atmospheres for the product from the inlet to the outlet; and a conveyor assembly for transferring the product from the inlet through the plurality of zones to the outlet.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus therefor, for detecting the presence of a target amount of gas flowing within a conduit, including: providing a heating element in operational contact with the conduit; heating at least one of the conduit or the gas; measuring the temperature of at least one of the heating element, the conduit or the gas; comparing the measured temperature of at least one of the heating element, the conduit or the gas to data relating to a target temperature; controlling and measuring the amount of energy consumed by the heating element in order to maintain the target temperature; correlating the amount of energy consumed by the heating element in order to maintain the target temperature with an amount of gas flowing within the conduit; and determining whether the amount of gas flowing within the conduit is at least the target amount of gas flowing within the conduit.

Abstract: A mechanical refrigeration process in which a refrigerant undergoes a cyclical process of evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion in order to provide a cooling effect, characterized by the condensation of the refrigerant including: supplying the refrigerant to a first side of a heat exchanger; and supplying an exhaust cryogen fluid from a cryogenic process to a second side of the heat exchanger; wherein the exhaust cryogen fluid is capable of subcooling the refrigerant within the heat exchanger. A mechanical refrigeration apparatus is also included capable of subcooling the refrigerant prior to expansion via the use of a cryogen fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchanger associated with a duct for a first fluid including: a central duct portion in fluid communication with the duct having an interior space and an exterior surface; a valve having opened and closed positions engageable within the interior space of the central duct portion; at least one coiled conduit for a second fluid positioned about at least a portion of the exterior surface of the central duct portion; upper and lower duct portions in fluid communication with the central duct portion including stationary upper and lower duct portions and movable upper and lower duct portions having opened and closed positions; and an at least partially movable and/or removable shell engaged with the stationary upper duct portion and the stationary lower duct portion and enclosing the coiled conduit; and, a refrigeration apparatus and process including the same.

Abstract: A fan for refrigerant fluid, including at least one blade having an internal space through which a refrigerant fluid passes; at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the internal space of each blade, wherein the at least one nozzle discharges the refrigerant fluid at a velocity sufficient to rotate the blade(s); and an electrical generator operationally engaged with the blade(s). Also, a snow injection device for a CO2 refrigerant fluid including a disk having an internal space through which a CO2 refrigerant fluid passes; at least one nozzle in communication with the internal space which discharges the CO2 refrigerant fluid at a velocity sufficient to rotate the disk, the nozzle(s) being adapted to flash the CO2 refrigerant fluid into gas and solid phases; and an electrical generator operationally engaged with the disk. Also, refrigeration apparatus using the fan and/or snow injection device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring a flow rate of a two-phase fluid flowing within a conduit including a chamber having at least one transparent wall in fluid communication with the conduit; a high-speed imaging system in visual communication with the at least one transparent wall; means for obtaining a temperature value and a pressure value of the two-phase fluid flowing within the conduit; and means for determining the flow rate of the two-phase fluid by analyzing the images obtained by the high-speed imaging system, and from the temperature value and the pressure value for the two-phase fluid flowing within the conduit. Processes for determining the flow rate of a two-phase fluid flowing within a conduit are also provided.

Abstract: A system processes a food product with a cooling gas and includes a housing with a chamber; a blower in communication with the chamber for circulating the cooling gas; a baffle disposed in the chamber for dividing the chamber into a first region for exposing the food product to the cooling gas and a second region in which the cooling gas is moved by the blower for recirculation to the first region of the chamber; an arcuate member disposed in the chamber in spaced relationship with the baffle for providing a flow path between the first and second regions, the arcuate member coacting with the baffle to guide the cooling gas into the flow path; and conveyor means disposed for movement through at least one of the first and second regions for supporting and delivering the food product through the cooling gas.