Device for pasteurizing a mass of foodstuff e.g. meat comprises first tube connecting to feed; two electrodes connected to radio-frequency power generator; second tube connected to first tube; and two liquid-filled jackets around two tubes

摘要

A device (1) to pasteurize a mass of foodstuff comprises a first tube (5) connected to a feed (3); two electrodes (6, 7) connected to an radio-frequency (RF) power generator such that mass present in first tube is heated dielectrically during its first residence time; a first jacket (10) filled with a heatable first liquid and extending around first tube; a second tube (11) which connects to first tube and in which hot mass is held at constant temperature during its second residence time; and a second jacket (13) filled with a heatable second liquid and extending around the second tube. A device (1) for pasteurizing a mass of foodstuff comprises a feed (3) through which the mass can be supplied under pressure to the device at a determined flow rate; a first tube (5), connecting to the feed, of an electrically and magnetically inert material suitable for contact with food; two plate-like electrodes (6, 7) which are situated on either side of the first tube and which are connected to an radio-frequency (RF) power generator which generates energy at a frequency of 10-50 MHz to the electrodes such that the mass present in the first tube is heated dielectrically during its first residence time in this first tube; a first jacket (10) filled with a heatable first liquid and extending around the first tube; a second tube (11) which connects to the first tube and in which the hot mass is held at practically constant temperature during its second residence time in this second tube; and a second jacket (13) filled with a heatable second liquid and extending around the second tube for this purpose, at the end of which second tube the hot mass is discharged for further processing, such as cooling, portioning and packaging. The first and/or the second liquid is water (preferably demineralized water), or an oil (preferably thermal oil).