Heating and cooling of viscous food products

Abstract

An improved heat exchange system and methodology, and an improved material treatment system and methodology, based on that heat exchange system, for providing improved pasteurized and sterilized packaged food products is disclosed. Improved pasteurized and sterilized packaged food products produced thereby are also disclosed.

1 . A vacuum heat exchange system comprising: 
 a container partially filled with a liquid and maintained under a vacuum;    a first heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, said first heat exchanger receiving a first fluid material, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said first fluid material; and    a second heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container, said second heat exchanger receiving a second fluid material and being heated by vapors of said liquid thereby heating said second fluid material,    at least one of said first and second heat exchangers including an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.    
     
     
         2 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  and wherein both of said first and second heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         3 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  and wherein first heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         4 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  and wherein second heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said second fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said second fluid material.  
     
     
         5 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  and wherein at least one of said first and second heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         6 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  and also comprising: 
 an electroheater for heating said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         7 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  and also comprising: 
 an electroheater for receiving said second fluid material from said second heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         8 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and also comprising: 
 an electroheater for heating said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger and wherein said first fluid material is received by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         9 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and also comprising: 
 an electroheater for heating said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger and wherein said first fluid material is received by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum heat exchange system according to  claim 5  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and also comprising: 
 an electroheater for heating said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger and wherein said first fluid material is received by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         11 . A material treatment system comprising: 
 an electroheater operative to rapidly heat a first fluid material; and    a vacuum heat exchange subsystem operative to rapidly cool said first fluid material following electroheating thereof, said vacuum heat exchange subsystem comprising: 
 a container partially filled with a liquid and maintained under a vacuum;  
 a first heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, said first heat exchanger receiving said first fluid material, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said first fluid material, and  
 a second heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said containers said second heat exchanger receiving a second fluid material and being heated by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said second fluid material,  
 at least one of said first and second heat exchangers including an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
   
     
     
         12 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  and wherein both of said first and second heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         13 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  and wherein first heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         14 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  and wherein second heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said second fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said second fluid material.  
     
     
         15 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  and wherein at least one of said first and second heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         16 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  and wherein said electroheater supplies said first fluid material to a holding tank, prior to receipt of said first fluid material by said first heat exchanger.  
     
     
         17 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  and wherein said electroheater receives said second fluid material from said second heat exchanger.  
     
     
         18 . A material treatment system according to  claim 11  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and wherein said electroheater heats said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger and wherein said first fluid material is received by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
     
     
         19 . A material treatment system according to  claim 12  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and wherein said electroheater heats said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger and wherein said first fluid material is received by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
     
     
         20 . A material treatment system according to  claim 15  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and wherein said electroheater heats said first fluid material prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger and wherein said first fluid material is received by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
     
     
         21 . A material treatment system comprising: 
 an electroheater operative to rapidly heat a first fluid material;    a first vacuum heat exchange subsystem operative to rapidly cool said first fluid material following electroheating thereof, said first vacuum heat exchange subsystem comprising: 
 a container partially filled with a liquid and maintained under a vacuum;  
 a first heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, said first heat exchanger receiving said first fluid material, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said first fluid material; and  
 a second heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container said second heat exchanger receiving a second fluid material and being heated by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said second fluid material,  
 at least one of said first and second heat exchangers including an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material; and  
   a second vacuum heat exchange subsystem operative to preheat said first fluid material prior to electroheating thereof, said second vacuum heat exchange subsystem comprising: 
 a container partially filled with a liquid and maintained under a vacuum;  
 a third heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, said third heat exchanger receiving a third fluid material, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said third fluid material; and  
 a fourth heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container, said fourth heat exchanger receiving said first fluid material and being heated by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said first fluid material,  
 at least one of said third and fourth heat exchangers including an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
   
     
     
         22 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein both of said first and second heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         23 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein first heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         24 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein second heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said second fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said second fluid material.  
     
     
         25 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein at least one of said first and second heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         26 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein said electroheater supplies said first fluid material to a holding tank, prior to receipt of said first fluid material by said first heat exchanger.  
     
     
         27 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein both of said third and fourth heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         28 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein third heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said third fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said third fluid material.  
     
     
         29 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein fourth heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         30 . A material treatment system according to  claim 21  and wherein at least one of said third and fourth heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         31 . A packaged food product characterized in: 
 having a viscosity exceeding approximately 5,000 centipoise;    being sterilized; and    being aseptically packaged.    
     
     
         32 . A packaged food product according to  claim 31  and having a pH exceeding approximately 4.5.  
     
     
         33 . A packaged humus food product characterized in: 
 being sterilized; and    being aseptically packaged.    
     
     
         34 . A packaged egg food product characterized in: 
 being sterilized; and    being aseptically packaged.    
     
     
         35 . A packaged egg food product characterized in: 
 being sterilized;    being aseptically filled and sealed following sterilization and cooling thereof.    
     
     
         36 . A packaged egg food product according to  claim 34  and wherein said egg food product is coagulated.  
     
     
         37 . A packaged egg food product according to  claim 35  and wherein said egg food product is coagulated.  
     
     
         38 . A packaged egg food product characterized in: 
 being pasteurized to at least 75 degrees Centigrade;    being aseptically filled and sealed following pasteurization and cooling thereof; and    being liquid.    
     
     
         39 . A vacuum heat exchange method comprising: 
 partially filling a container maintained under a vacuum with a liquid;    receiving a first fluid material in a first heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said containers heating said liquid and thereby cooling said first fluid material; and    receiving a second fluid material in a second heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container, heating said second heat exchanger by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said second fluid material,    where at least one of said first and second heat exchangers includes an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.    
     
     
         40 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  and wherein both of said first and second heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         41 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  and wherein first heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         42 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  and wherein second heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said second fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said second fluid material.  
     
     
         43 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  and wherein at least one of said first and second heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         44 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  and also comprising: 
 heating said first fluid material in an electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         45 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  and also comprising: 
 receiving said second fluid material into an electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         46 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 39  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and also comprising: 
 receiving said first fluid material from said second heat exchanger; and  
 heating said first fluid material using an electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         47 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 40  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and also comprising: 
 receiving said first fluid material from said second heat exchanger; and  
 heating said first fluid material using an electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         48 . A vacuum heat exchange method according to  claim 43  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and also comprising: 
 receiving said first fluid material from said second heat exchanger; and  
 heating said first fluid material using an electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         49 . A material treatment method comprising: 
 rapidly heating a first fluid material using an electroheater; and    rapidly cooling, said first fluid material following electroheating thereof by: 
 partially filling a container maintained under a vacuum with a liquid;  
 receiving said first fluid material in a first heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said first fluid material; and  
 receiving a second fluid material in a second heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container, heating said second heat exchanger by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said second fluid material,  
 where at least one of said first and second heat exchangers includes an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
   
     
     
         50 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  and wherein both of said first and second heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         51 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  and wherein first heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         52 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  and wherein second heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said second fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said second fluid material.  
     
     
         53 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  and wherein at least one of said first and second heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         54 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  and comprising: 
 supplying said first fluid material to a holding tank from said electroheater prior to receiving said first fluid material in said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         55 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  and comprising: 
 receiving said second fluid material into said electroheater from said second heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         56 . A material treatment method according to  claim 49  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and comprising: 
 receiving said first fluid material by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger; and  
 heating said first fluid material in said electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         57 . A material treatment method according to  claim 50  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and comprising: 
 receiving said first fluid material by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger; and  
 heating said first fluid material in said electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         58 . A material treatment method according to  claim 53  wherein said first and second fluid materials are the same material at different temperatures and comprising: 
 receiving said first fluid material by said electroheater from said second heat exchanger; and  
 heating said first fluid material in said electroheater prior to receipt thereof by said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         59 . A material treatment method comprising: 
 rapidly heating a first fluid material using an electroheater; and    rapidly cooling said first fluid material following electroheating thereof by: 
 partially filling a container maintained under a vacuum with a liquid;  
 receiving a first fluid material in a first heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said first fluid material; and  
 receiving a second fluid material in a second heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container, heating said second heat exchanger by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said second fluid material,  
 where at least one of said first and second heat exchangers includes an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchanger generally throughout said fluid material; and  
   preheating said first fluid material prior to electroheating thereof by: 
 partially filling a container maintained under a vacuum with a liquid;  
 receiving a third fluid material in a third heat exchanger disposed in said liquid in said container, heating said liquid and thereby cooling said third fluid material; and  
 receiving said first fluid material in a fourth heat exchanger disposed outside of said liquid in said container, heating said fourth heat exchanger by vapors of said liquid, thereby heating said first fluid material,  
 where at least one of said third and fourth heat exchangers includes an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
   
     
     
         60 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein both of said first and second heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         61 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein first heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchanger generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         62 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein second heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said second fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said second fluid material.  
     
     
         63 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein at least one of said first and second heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         64 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and comprising: 
 supplying said first fluid material to a holding tank from said electroheater prior to receiving said first fluid material in said first heat exchanger.  
 
     
     
         65 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein both of said third and fourth heat exchangers include an agitator for agitating said fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said fluid material.  
     
     
         66 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein third heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said third fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said third fluid material.  
     
     
         67 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein fourth heat exchanger includes an agitator for agitating said first fluid material passing therethrough to enhance heat exchange generally throughout said first fluid material.  
     
     
         68 . A material treatment method according to  claim 59  and wherein at least one of said third and fourth heat exchangers comprises a scraped surface heat exchanger.  
     
     
         69 . A method of preparing a packaged food product comprising: 
 producing a food product having a viscosity exceeding approximately 5,000 centipoise;    sterilizing said food product; and    aseptically packaging said food product.    
     
     
         70 . A method of preparing a packaged food product according to  claim 69  and wherein said packaged food product has a pH exceeding approximately 4.5.  
     
     
         71 . A method of preparing a packaged humus food product comprising: 
 sterilizing said humus food product; and    aseptically packaging said humus food product.    
     
     
         72 . A method of preparing a packaged egg food product comprising: 
 sterilizing said egg food product; and    aseptically packaging said egg food product.    
     
     
         73 . A method of preparing a packaged egg food product comprising: 
 sterilizing said egg food product;    cooling said egg food product: and    aseptically filling and sealing said egg food product in a package.    
     
     
         74 . A method of preparing a packaged egg food product according to  claim 72  and wherein said egg food product is coagulated.  
     
     
         75 . A method of preparing a packaged egg food product according to  claim 73  and wherein said egg food product is coagulated.  
     
     
         76 . A method of preparing a packaged liquid egg food product comprising: 
 pasteurizing said liquid egg food product to at least 75 degrees Centigrade;    cooling said liquid egg food product; and    aseptically filling and sealing said liquid egg food product in a package.