Abstract: A method for concentration of a liquid food product, the liquid product having a dry solid content of a least 40 percent and the liquid food product comprising crystallizable components, comprising the steps of heating the liquid food product to a temperature above the crystallization temperature of the liquid food product in a first heat exchanger; transferring the heated liquid food product to a first separator; flash separating volatile components from the heated liquid food product; and obtaining a liquid concentrate of the liquid food product.

Abstract: An agglomerated powder is produced in an apparatus where the product is agglomerated in two stages. First, a liquid concentrated feed of the product is atomized by an atomizer in a drying chamber. The fine particles are transferred to a separating device to be split up in a first and second fraction. The first of these is led to the atomizer in the drying chamber to perform a first agglomeration and the resulting agglomerates are accommodated in an external fluid be in the drying chamber and from this transferred to an external fluid bed. Also the second fraction is transferred to the external fluid bed where water by a second atomizer is atomized over a fluidized layer of agglomerates to perform a second agglomeration of product.

Abstract: The apparatus consists of a cylindrical drying chamber, which is provided with an upwardly conical bottom. The fluidization and drying medium is supplied to the chamber through a substantially circularly extending slit between the conical bottom and the wall of the drying chamber from an annular distributor for the fluidization and drying medium. A stirrer is placed coaxially in the chamber, the blades of said stirrer being parallel to the conical bottom. Preferably, the blades of the stirrer are positioned at a small distance from the conical bottom. The cylindrical drying chamber and the annular distributor may have a common wall, which is provided with a heat insulating layer on the side facing the distributor.