Method and system for conservative evaluation, validation and monitoring of thermal processing

Abstract

A method of generating a temperature measurement for a batch or a continuous stream of material. The method includes providing a particle having a signal that changes at a pre-determined temperature, inserting the particle into the batch or continuous stream; and detecting a signal change from the particle to thereby generate a temperature measurement for the batch or continuous stream. A suitable system for use in carrying out the method is also described.

1 - 57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . A system for generating a temperature measurement for a batch or a continuous stream of material, the system comprising: 
 (a) a particle having a signal that changes at a pre-determined temperature; and    (b) a detector for detecting a signal change from the particle to thereby generate a temperature measurement for the batch or continuous stream.    
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the particle further comprises an implant surrounded by a shield material and the predetermined temperature further comprises a temperature at which the shield material no longer shields the implant.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the particle further comprises a magnetic implant surrounded by a ferromagnetic material and the predetermined temperature further comprises a Curie temperature for the ferromagnetic material.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the magnetic implant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of neodymium iron boron, cobalt rare earth, aluminum-nickel, ceramic, organic, plastic-embedded metal or ceramic and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the particle further comprises a luminescent implant surrounded by an opaque material and the predetermined temperature further comprises a melting temperature of the opaque material.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the particle has a density, and the density of the particle is adjusted to a pre-determined target density.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the target density is that density with the highest likelihood of including a fastest particle.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the particle further comprises a wall thickness, size, shape, composition or combination thereof that imparts a conservative heat transfer characteristic to the particle.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the particle further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, copolymers thereof, polypropylene, copolymers thereof, and combinations of polystyrene, copolymers thereof, polypropylene and copolymers thereof.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the particle further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an inert material, a time-temperature integrating device (TTID), a microbial load, an actual food particle, a thermal pill, thermal insulating material, a transponder and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the detector further comprises a sensor adapted for placement proximate to a batch or continuous stream of material.  
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the detector further comprises a plurality of sensors adapted for placement proximate to a batch or continuous stream of material.  
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein the plurality of sensors are adapted for successive, parallel or overlapping placement proximate to a batch or a continuous stream of material.  
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the detector is adapted for detecting the signal change continuously over a predetermined length of a continuous stream.  
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 58 , further comprising a plurality of particles, each particle having a signal that changes at a different pre-determined temperature.  
   
   
       73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the detector further comprises a plurality of sensors adapted for placement proximate to a batch or continuous stream of material.  
   
   
       74 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein the plurality of sensors are adapted for successive, parallel or overlapping placement proximate to a batch or a continuous stream of material.  
   
   
       75 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein a sensor is calibrated to detect a signal from a particle at a temperature below the predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       76 . The system of  claim 58 , further comprising a display for graphically displaying output from the detector.  
   
   
       77 . The system of  claim 58 , further comprising a device for recording, storing, retrieving, displaying, or analyzing data, or combinations thereof.