Abstract: A water treatment system for a poultry chiller including a chiller tank is described herein. The system includes a float holding tank at a downstream section of the chiller tank; a fan at the downstream section of the chiller tank that is configured to blow float formed on a surface of the water in the chiller tank into the float holding tank; and a float removal mechanism at the float holding tank that is configured to remove the float from the float holding tank. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a decontamination tank and method for treating reducing microbial contamination of a food product. In one embodiment, decontamination tank comprises a first chamber for holding a first antimicrobial bearing liquid for reducing a microbial contamination on a surface of the food product. The decontamination tank further comprises a second chamber for holding a second antimicrobial bearing liquid of different content than the first antimicrobial bearing liquid in the first chamber, for further reducing the microbial contamination on the surface of the food product. The decontamination tank further comprises a first unloader configured to remove the food product from the first antimicrobial bearing liquid in the first chamber and to deposit the food product toward the second chamber. The decontamination tank further comprises a second unloader configured to remove the food product from the second antimicrobial bearing liquid in the second chamber.

Abstract: A water treatment system for a poultry chiller including a chiller tank is described herein. The system includes a float holding tank at a downstream section of the chiller tank; a fan at the downstream section of the chiller tank that is configured to blow float formed on a surface of the water in the chiller tank into the float holding tank; and a float removal mechanism at the float holding tank that is configured to remove the float from the float holding tank. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: A water treatment system for a poultry chiller including a chiller tank is described herein. The system includes a float holding tank at a downstream section of the chiller tank; a fan at the downstream section of the chiller tank that is configured to blow float formed on a surface of the water in the chiller tank into the float holding tank; and a float removal mechanism at the float holding tank that is configured to remove the float from the float holding tank. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: A water treatment system for a poultry chiller including a chiller tank is described herein. The system includes a float holding tank at a downstream section of the chiller tank; a fan at the downstream section of the chiller tank that is configured to blow float formed on a surface of the water in the chiller tank into the float holding tank; and a float removal mechanism at the float holding tank that is configured to remove the float from the float holding tank. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: Birds are moved through chilled water by bird moving means such as an auger or by a series of paddles. The birds tend to accumulate in a predetermined path in the water. Streams of water that include an antibacterial additive are directed toward the predetermined path and engage and disperse the birds, and wash the birds with the streams of water and the antibacterial additive, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and increasing the effectiveness of the antibacterial properties of the agents in the chilled water.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of reducing the temperature and increasing the moisture content of carcasses includes progressively introducing the carcasses into a body of heat-exchanging fluid in a tank having a curved bottom surface, oscillating a paddle in the tank along the curved bottom surface to upwardly and laterally urge the carcasses through the body of fluid, and axially propelling jets of heat-exchanging fluid through the body of fluid to axially urge the carcasses along the length of the tank toward an outlet end of the tank.

Abstract: The chiller includes a semi-cylindrical tank (36) that conforms to the perimeter of its auger (38) so that the water can be raised to a water level (68) high above the auger shaft (44). Streams of water (84) are directed from the pulling side (80) across the lower portion of the tank beneath the auger shaft (44) to the dead side 82 of the tank at intervals along the tank so as to disperse the lower portion of the masses (23) of buoyant birds (22) from the more crowded pulling side (80) of the tank, beneath the auger shaft (44) toward the more vacant dead side (82) of the tank, thereby distributing the products more evenly throughout the tank and causing more water turbulence in the tank, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and avoiding having the birds cross over the auger shaft moving backward in chiller into a following flight of the auger.

Abstract: A metal air cell system comprises a frame structure configured with variable airflow paths. The variable airflow paths provide alternatives between direct open loop airflow and semi-closed loop air flow, wherein air is at least partially circulated around the cell components. This is particularly useful for operation in different temperature environments. The open loop mode is useful for high temperature environments, and the semi-closed loop mode is useful for low temperature environments.

Abstract: A metal air cell system comprises a frame structure configured with variable airflow paths. The variable airflow paths provide alternatives between direct open loop airflow and semi-closed loop air flow, wherein air is at least partially circulated around the cell components. This is particularly useful for operation in different temperature environments. The open loop mode is useful for high temperature environments, and the semi-closed loop mode is useful for low temperature environments.

Abstract: A metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) system includes an electrolyte, air electrodes, and a movable anode having anode material deposited on two sides of an electrically conductive substrate. The anode can be, for example, either a rotating anode disk, or a linearly-movable anode, sandwiched between the two air electrodes. The air electrodes each have at least one recharging portion and at least one discharging portion. The anode movement, which can be, for example, rotational or linear, is relative to the recharging air electrode portion for recharging the anode material and relative to the discharging air electrode portion for discharging the anode material.

Abstract: A rotating disc for cutting ice in an industrial ice maker includes a center mounting hole for rotatably mounting the disc in the ice maker. The round flat top surface having a plurality of triangularly shaped through holes. The base of the triangularly shaped through holes being equally spaced from the mounting hole. The base is also positioned near the outer edge. The disc has plurality of cutter knives with triangular shapes. Each of the plurality of cutter knives are securely fastened to the round flat top surface and fixedly positioned to nearly cover each of the triangularly shaped through holes. A slot remains and extends nearly from the mounting hole to the outer edge. There is a raised portion which forms a cutting edge and is positioned over the triangularly shaped hole and parallel with the slot. The cutting edge extends nearly from the mounting hole to the outer edge of the rotating disc.

Abstract: A fuel cell battery having an electrolyte, and a moving anode having anode material deposited on two sides of an electrically conductive substrate, which can be either a rotating anode disk, or a linearly moving anode, sandwiched between two air electrodes wherein the air electrodes each have at least one recharging portion and at least one discharging portion. The recharging portion of the air electrode is designed for optimum recharging and the discharging portion of the air electrode is designed for optimum discharging such that the fuel cell battery performs to its maximum ability. The recharging air electrode area can be larger than the discharging air electrode area for faster recharge times. The recharging air electrode can be operated at lower current densities to prevent anode densification, anode shape change and dendrite growth. Discharging the anode material on both sides of the anode increases the depth of the discharge and increases the battery's capacity.

Abstract: Fat removal apparatus for removing fat from the surface of a liquid body includes a rotary fat skimmer mounted for rotation above said surface of the liquid body and a plate having an inclined front face surface and an outer periphery partially submerged in the liquid body, a fat removal opening is provided in the plate portion co-axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the plate, a spiral shaped fat capture flange extends forwardly from the surface of the plate and has an inner end at the fat removal opening centered in the plate and an outer leading end edge positioned radially outward from the fat removal opening to engage and remove fat from the surface of the liquid body and deliver it to the fat removal opening.

Abstract: A reverse cycle defrost or water defrost type ice-maker refrigeration system includes a programmable controller which initiates a freezing cycle in which water is pumped for application to the chilled surface of an evaporator for freezing. All water that fails to be frozen absorbs minerals from the frozen water and is returned to the sump. The programmable controller terminates replenishment of water removed from the sump substantially prior to completion of the freezing cycle so that the sump level falls and the mineral content of water in the sump increases substantially. The ice is harvested at the end of the freezing cycle by hot refrigerant gas from the compressor directed to the evaporator or warm water while the sump is being drained and subsequently refilled prior to the initiation of a subsequent cycle of operation. The operation is energy efficient since water is saved and a reduced amount of water is used and a reduced amount of previously refrigerated water is disposed of by drainage of the sump.

Abstract: In an auger-type product chiller having an auger including a series of successive flights that form a generally helical structure that, when rotated, moves product through cold water for chilling the product, control elements extending from faces of the flights at a non-zero angle. The control structures prevent "clumping" and packing of poultry product, break up any "clumps" and packs of the product that may develop, and improve product uniformity. In this manner, the advantages of proper agitation, as well as rapid, predictable and even product cooling and moisture introduction, are achieved. Implementations of the control elements include sets of rods extending from the flights at 30.degree. angles from radial lines of affixation to the flights, flat plates extending from the flights at 30.degree. angles from radial lines of affixation to the flights, and sets of rods extending between successive flights near peripheries of the flights.