Abstract: A method for removing dissolved oxygen from a plant product such as grapes or the like and for maintaining it in a controlled atmosphere when it is placed in mechanical means for harvesting, transport and storage, said means comprising a collection tank which receives the plant product which is present in a solid and a liquid state in this tank, said removal and controlled atmosphere being provided by using an inert gas, said tank having a lower portion or first part and a second upper part or portion into which the product is introduced when being placed in the tank. Provision is made for the use of said inert gas in an initial solid state, its subsequent sublimation and the interaction of the gas in gaseous state thus produced with said product inside the tank.

Abstract: A method for removing dissolved oxygen from a plant product such as grapes or the like and for maintaining it in a controlled atmosphere when it is placed in mechanical means for harvesting, transport and storage, said means comprising a collection tank which receives the plant product which is present in a solid and a liquid state in this tank, said removal and controlled atmosphere being provided by using an inert gas, said tank having a lower portion or first part and a second upper part or portion into which the product is introduced when being placed in the tank. Provision is made for the use of said inert gas in an initial solid state, its subsequent sublimation and the interaction of the gas in gaseous state thus produced with said product inside the tank.

Abstract: Method for cooling in a controlled manner a fluid agglomerate or polyphase fluid, with a continuous or discontinuous flow, consisting of liquid and solid components, such as pressed grapes, said fluid being introduced and present inside an associated receptacle, it is envisaged removing from this agglomerate at least a part thereof, extracting it from the abovementioned receptacle, cooling it and then introducing it again inside the receptacle so as to use it again as a heat carrier or means for removing heat from the remaining part of the said fluid agglomerate present in the abovementioned receptacle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a fluid in the liquid state, possibly also containing solid elements, comprising feeding said fluid into a containing member for said fluid and also feeding into said member a cooling fluid in the liquid state, such as a liquefied gas; said fluids are brought into direct contact within said containing member so that by absorbing heat, the cooling fluid passes into the gaseous state and cools the fluid to be cooled, these fluids then being extracted directly from said member by separate conduits.

Abstract: A method for cooling a fluid in the liquid state, possibly also containing solid elements, comprises feeding said fluid into a containing member for said fluid and also feeding into said member a cooling fluid in the liquid state, such as a liquefied gas; said fluids are brought into direct contact within said containing member so that by absorbing heat, the cooling fluid passes into the gaseous state and cools the fluid to be cooled, these fluids then being extracted directly from said member by separate conduits. The plant for implementing said method is also claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for carrying out the disinfestation of a product by means of the use of disinfesting gas under atmospheric pressure with pretreatment in vacuo, the said product being introduced into a first container in which the vacuum is produced and in which, subsequently, the said vacuum is broken by the introduction of the disinfesting gas, the said method comprising: a) the introduction of the first container into a second container before the vacuum is produced, b) the creation of the vacuum in both containers and the subsequent breaking of the said vacuum by passing the disinfesting gas into the two containers, c) the removal of the said gas from the second container, the gas being retained in the first container, d) the extraction of the first container from the second container so as to permit the use of the latter for subsequent disinfestation, the disinfesting gas being retained in the first container for the time necessary to complete the disinfestation of the product.