Abstract: An impinger for cooling or freezing products includes an impingement plate containing openings for directing impingement jets of a mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen toward the products transported on a conveyor, wherein the openings in aggregate have an open area of about 7% to about 12% of the total surface area of the impingement plate, the impingement plate providing a back pressure restriction of about 220 to about 475 Pa. A process for cooling or freezing products within a housing chamber includes transporting the products, particularly IQF food products, on a moving substrate within the chamber, mixing a gas with solid or liquid cryogen to form a mixture, directing the mixture to the aforementioned impinger; and selectively directing the pressurized impingement jets of the mixture from the impingement plate toward the products transported on the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are an in-line direct cryogenic method and system for cooling heated fluid food products, such as sauces. The method includes injecting cryogen directly into the fluid to be cooled while the flow rate of the fluid to be cooled is adjusted in response to downstream temperature measurements and while maintaining the injection rate of the cryogen into the fluid. According to the method the flow of the sauce is adjusted during the flow of the cryogen to achieve process stability, product uniformity and efficient use of the cryogen.

Abstract: An apparatus provides pulsed impingement jets to a sub-chamber within an impingement hood of a freezer, and includes a blower having an inlet and an outlet at an interior of the freezer; a duct having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet and a second end opening into the sub-chamber; and a flow valve disposed in the duct proximate the second end opening, the flow valve movable in repetitive open and closed positions for providing repetitive, discrete pulses of the impingement jets from the second end opening of the duct into the sub-chamber.

Abstract: A freezer for a food product, includes a housing having an internal space with a processing atmosphere for reducing a temperature of the food product; and a pressure balance apparatus in communication with the processing atmosphere to restrict atmosphere external to the freezer from reaching the internal space, the pressure balance apparatus comprising at least one sensor exposed to the processing atmosphere for generating a first signal indicating an amount of oxygen (O2) sensed at the internal space, and a blower disposed to direct a pressurized flow of the processing atmosphere to the internal space responsive to the first signal. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for calculating a dry ice block necessary to preserve a product during transport, includes calculating a surface area:weight ratio needed for the dry ice block to preserve the product in at least one of a chilled condition and a frozen condition, and forming the dry ice block into a shape having said surface area:weight ratio. A related apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A cryogen injection nozzle for a blender, comprising a housing having an internal chamber extending therethrough; a first tube extending along the internal chamber and having a first opening for delivering a cryogen to the blender; and a fluid flow apparatus mounted to the housing for introducing and removing a fluid flow at the internal chamber, the apparatus including a first pipe extending into the internal chamber for delivering the fluid flow to contact the first tube, and a second pipe extending a shorter distance into the internal chamber than the first pipe for removing the fluid flow from the internal chamber. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: In a freezer having an internal space therein in which a blower and an impingement plate are disposed and through which a conveyor for a food product passes, an impingement apparatus, includes a hood disposed at the internal space for coacting with the blower and the impingement plate, the hood including a sidewall defining a sub-chamber in which the blower is received; and a pipe having an end opening into the sub-chamber for introducing a pulse of cryogen to the sub-chamber for increasing a pressure in the sub-chamber and contacting the impingement plate. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for allocating a chilling substance to a transport tote for preserving a food product therein includes measuring thermal properties of the food product to be transported; calculating environmental conditions for which the transport tote is to be exposed during transport; allocating an amount of the chilling substance to a container for being deposited in the transport tote for the preserving of the food product; and depositing the container in the transport tote. A related apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A bag for dry ice includes a container having a chamber therein for receiving the dry ice; a first layer of insulation at the chamber constructed and arranged to provide a first heat transfer rate; and a second layer of insulation at the chamber spaced apart from the first layer of insulation, and constructed and arranged to provide a second heat transfer rate greater than the first transfer rate. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for freezing a food product in a cryogenic freezer includes sensing at least one physical characteristic of the food product in real time, providing a cryogenic substance to the food product for heat transfer at said food product, automatically self-adjusting the heat transfer at the food product responsive to the sensing the at least one physical characteristic, and continuously self-adjusting the heat transfer for bringing the food product to a select temperature. A related freezer apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A cryogen injection apparatus for injecting a cryogenic substance to a blender includes at least one nozzle constructed for being in fluid communication with an interior of the blender; a heat transfer fluid for being operationally associated by conduction with the at least one nozzle; and a heat transfer housing supporting the at least one nozzle and having a space therein for receipt of the heat transfer fluid to warm the at least one nozzle. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A cryogen injection apparatus for injecting a cryogenic substance into a blender, includes at least one nozzle constructed for being in fluid communication with an interior of the blender; and an electric heat sink member in contact with the at least one nozzle for electrically heating said nozzle. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method 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; a conveyor assembly for transferring the product from the inlet through the plurality of zones to the outlet; and a controller in communication with the chamber, the plurality of zones, the heat transfer apparatus, the conveyor assembly and the heat transfer rate atmospheres, the controller having stored therein physical characteristics and a heat transfer profile of the product to adjust and control the heat transfer rate atmospheres for the product such that a heat transfer rate of the product will decrease as the product is transferred from the inlet through each one of the plurality of zones to the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a liquid cryogen with pulsed flow includes a first tank 14 containing liquid cryogen; a second tank 16 containing gaseous cryogen under pressure, the second tank in fluid communication with the first tank and including an outlet; and a pair of valves including a first valve 70 disposed to alternate between interruption and continuance of the fluid communication between the first and second tanks, and a second valve 74 disposed for coaction up to 180° out-of-phase with the first valve to repetitively cycle between pressurizing and releasing pressure of the liquid cryogen for providing discrete pulses of the liquid cryogen from the outlet. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a liquid-gas entrained cryogen mixture onto a food product includes a first pipe through which is provided a flow of liquid cryogen; a second pipe through which is provided a flow of gaseous cryogen, the second pipe in fluid communication with the first pipe at a mixing region; and a pulsing valve disposed at an interior of the second pipe upstream of the mixing region, the pulsing valve adapted for releasing the gaseous cryogen into the liquid cryogen at select intervals of time to provide a pulsating flow of the liquid-gas entrained cryogen mixture downstream of the mixing region for contacting the food product. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for reducing a temperature of a product in a freezer includes providing a product to a chamber of the freezer; dividing a portion of the chamber disposed between a pair of baffle assemblies in the freezer into an intake zone and an outflow zone; moving each baffle assembly of the pair of baffle assemblies in the chamber 90° degrees out of phase with each other for directing a gas flow in the chamber; oscillating the gas flow within the chamber between the intake zone and the outflow zone during the moving the pair of baffle assemblies; injecting a cryogen substance into the chamber for cooling the gas flow; and contacting the product with the cooling gas flow.

Abstract: A freezer apparatus for treating a product with cryogen includes a source of cryogen liquid and a source of cryogen gas; a first conduit for delivering a first amount of the cryogen liquid; a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit for delivering a second amount of the cryogen gas into the cryogen fluid for being mixed therewith to provide a cryogen mixture having a ratio selected of cryogen gas:cryogen liquid; and a delivery apparatus in fluid communication with the first conduit downstream of the second conduit, the delivery apparatus including at least one outlet through which the cryogen mixture passes for contacting a surface of the product. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for reducing a temperature of a product in a freezer includes providing a product to a chamber of the freezer; dividing a portion of the chamber disposed between a pair of baffle assemblies in the freezer into an intake zone and an outflow zone; moving each baffle assembly of the pair of baffle assemblies in the chamber 90° degrees out of phase with each other for directing a gas flow in the chamber; oscillating the gas flow within the chamber between the intake zone and the outflow zone during the moving the pair of baffle assemblies; injecting a cryogen substance into the chamber for cooling the gas flow; and contacting the product with the cooling gas flow.

Abstract: A freezer for a product includes a housing having a chamber therein with an atmosphere for reducing a temperature of the product; a cryogen refrigeration apparatus operationally associated with the chamber during a first cycle to pre-cool the atmosphere in the chamber; and a mechanical refrigeration apparatus operationally associated with the chamber during a second cycle to cool the atmosphere in the chamber when the first cycle is completed. A process is also provided.

Abstract: A freezer includes a housing having a sidewall defining a chamber, and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber; a pair of baffle assemblies spaced apart and disposed in the chamber, a first one of the pair movable 90° degrees out of phase from a second one of the pair; a plate disposed in the chamber and extending between the first and second baffle assemblies for dividing a portion of the chamber into an intake zone and an outflow zone; a fan disposed in the chamber between the first and second baffle assemblies and in communication with the intake and outflow zones for providing a gas flow from the intake zone to the outflow zone; and a delivery apparatus in communication with the chamber for delivering a chilling substance to the chamber for reducing a temperature of a product. A method is also provided.