Cross flow tunnel freezer system

Abstract

A system processes a food product with a cooling gas and includes a housing with a chamber; a blower in communication with the chamber for circulating the cooling gas; a baffle disposed in the chamber for dividing the chamber into a first region for exposing the food product to the cooling gas and a second region in which the cooling gas is moved by the blower for recirculation to the first region of the chamber; an arcuate member disposed in the chamber in spaced relationship with the baffle for providing a flow path between the first and second regions, the arcuate member coacting with the baffle to guide the cooling gas into the flow path; and conveyor means disposed for movement through at least one of the first and second regions for supporting and delivering the food product through the cooling gas.

1 . An apparatus for processing a food product with a cooling gas, comprising:
 a housing;   a chamber disposed in the housing;   a blower in communication with the chamber for circulating the cooling gas in the chamber;   a baffle disposed in the chamber for dividing the chamber into a first region of the chamber for exposing the food product to the cooling gas and a second region of the chamber in which the cooling gas is moved by the blower for recirculation to the first region of the chamber;   an arcuate member disposed in the chamber in spaced relationship with the baffle for providing a flow path between the first and second regions, the arcuate member coacting with the baffle to guide the cooling gas into the flow path; and   conveyor means disposed for movement through at least one of the first and second regions for supporting and delivering the food product through the cooling gas.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate member comprises an interior surface in the chamber of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface comprises a curved portion of a sidewall of the housing, the curved portion proximate the flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate member comprises a longitudinal member extending from an area of the first region into the second region, the longitudinal member including a curved portion proximate the flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is constructed of nonporous material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal member is constructed of nonporous material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cryogen charging assembly in communication with at least one of the first and second regions of the chamber for providing cryogen fluid to the cooling gas. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the cryogen charging assembly comprises at least one nozzle disposed in the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the cryogen fluid is selected from cold gas, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the sidewall comprises a door for the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a floor disposed in the chamber, the floor constructed on a grade off the horizontal and tilted downward within the chamber toward the arcuate member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region and the flow path extend across an entire surface of the conveyor means upon which the food product is supported, for guiding the cooling gas in a direction across the food product perpendicular to movement of the food product in the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is disposed in the chamber having a proximate end positioned at the blower and a distal end extending in the chamber toward the arcuate member. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is adapted for movement within the chamber to accommodate height of the food product on the conveyor means in the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the blower is disposed in the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A method of applying a cooling gas to a food product, comprising:
 conveying a food product along a first path to be cooled in a chamber for cooling;   circulating a cooling gas in the cooling chamber along a second path perpendicular to an entire length of the first path; and   exposing the food product to the cooling gas moving along the second path for an entire length of the first path in the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising charging the cooling gas with a cryogenic fluid at a select location in the cooling chamber during the circulating of the cooling gas. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the cryogenic fluid is selected from cold gas, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising dividing the cooling chamber into a first region wherein the food product is conveyed along the first path for exposure to the cooling gas circulating along a second path, and a second region wherein the cooling gas is recirculated in the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising adjusting a height of the first region to accommodate a height of the food product.