Patent ID: 8742305
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: A23B,A23L,A23V,A61L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for thermally treating a flowable material, the apparatus comprising: (a) a conduit for receiving a flowable material, wherein at least a portion of the conduit is transparent to electromagnetic radiation; (b) a device for providing electromagnetic radiation to at least a portion of the conduit, the device comprising a control device for controlling a power level of the device for providing electromagnetic radiation such that heating of a flowable material in the conduit occurs at a higher rate than heating of the conduit, such that the heating of the flowable material is substantially free of heating by contacting the flowable material with a surface of the conduit having a temperature that exceeds a maximum temperature level of the flowable material itself; and (c) a mixing structure disposed within or along the conduit to provide for thermal equalization in at least a portion of the heated flowable material to thereby thermally treat the flowable material, wherein the mixing structure comprises one or more passive mixing structures, one or more active mixing structures, or both, and wherein the mixing structure is at a location selected from the group consisting of one or more points of entry, one or more points within, one or more exits, and combinations thereof, of the portion of the conduit that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation.