Patent EP-2289342-A1 (EP)
Inventor: WILD HANS-PETER
IPC: A23L3/22
Filed: 2009-08-27
Abstract: The device for heating a flowing product (3) such as base material for milk- and mixed milk beverages, comprises a heating module (2), in which a treatment channel (4) to be flowed through from the product is formed, an alternating current source for producing an electromagnetic alternating filed in the treatment channel, a pair of electrodes (5, 6) provided on the heating module for forming the alternating field between the electrodes, and two heating zones turned in row related to the product stream with respective heating module. The treatment channel is formed between the electrodes. The device for heating a flowing product (3) such as base material for milk- and mixed milk beverages, comprises a heating module (2), in which a treatment channel (4) to be flowed through from the product is formed, an alternating current source for producing an electromagnetic alternating filed in the treatment channel, a pair of electrodes (5, 6) provided on the heating module for forming the alternating field between the electrodes, and two heating zones turned in row related to the product stream with respective heating module. The treatment channel is formed between the electrodes in such a way that the product flows in a main flow direction from the first electrode to the second electrode. The electrodes are formed as plate-shaped cover that locks in and/or on the ends of the treatment channel. An inlet channel flows in the treatment channel with a section that connects at the wall of the treatment channel in such a way that the product flows tangentially at the wall of the treatment channel. The cross-section of the inlet channel is smaller than the cross-section of the treatment channel so that the product flows only at a side of the head axis of the treatment channel. The interval between the inlet channel and the electrode is 1 mm. Outlet channels flows in the treatment channel with a section that connects at the wall of the treatment channel in such a way that the product discharges tangentially along at the wall of the treatment channel. The treatment channel is formed as a screw-shaped recess that conducts the product in the main flow direction of a screw line at the internal wall of the treatment channel. An inlet opening is formed at a first external side surface for the product, and an outlet opening is formed at opposite external side surface for the product in such a way that the two heating modules are lined to each other at the side surfaces so that the outlet opening of the first heating module lies over the inlet opening of the second heating module in order to connect the treatment channel of the heating module in row. The main flow direction of the first and the second heating module is set contrary to one another. The distance between the electrodes is 20-500 mm. The interval between the electrodes of the heating zone is higher than the average product temperature in the respective heating zone. The electrodes of the heating module of different heating zones are connected parallel to the alternating current source. An independent claim is included for a method for heating a flowing product such as base material for milk- and mixed milk beverages.