Patent ID: 6344229
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: A23C,A23L,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A method for destroying harmful microorganisms in a liquid by short-time high-temperature heating of the liquid in a micro heat exchanger having up to 10,000 microchannels per cm3 active heat exchanger volume formed by stacks of metal foils having parallel microchannels formed in said metal foils, with the metal foils being joined by diffusion welding, said method comprising the steps of: in a first step, rapidly heating the liquid in a micro heat exchanger with a gradient of at least 200Â° K/sec, during a second step, maintaining the liquid at said high temperature for a time period of less than 2 seconds, and in a third step, cooling said liquid again in the micro heat exchanger with a gradient of at least 200Â° K/sec.