Patent ID: 8124154

Claim:
A method for optimizing fryer atmosphere control in a fryer comprising: an oil pan for containing frying oil; a fryer hood enclosing the volume immediately above the oil pan; at least one steam stack on said fryer hood with a damper or fan an upstream end having a vestibule with a steam shield, said upstream end for receiving a product to be fried in said oil pan, wherein said vestibule encompasses a product-entry point where the product will enter the frying oil during operation; a fryer midsection adjacent said upstream end; a downstream end adjacent said fryer midsection for removing the product; wherein said steam shield is positioned slightly downstream from the product-entry point and located within the fryer hood, thereby separating said upstream end from said fryer midsection; said method comprising the following steps: a) positioning a first non-condensable inert gas manifold in the upstream end and within the fryer hood for introducing an inert gas; b) introducing said inert gas through said first inert gas manifold at an inert-gas flow rate; c) introducing sparge steam into the fryer midsection within the fryer hood at a sparge-steam flow rate; d) measuring the effectiveness of the first inert gas manifold in preventing sparge steam from reaching the product entry point; e) identifying trouble spots in the fryer, if any, where steam concentrations are greater than a predetermined maximum acceptable steam concentration; f) modifying the fryer at the trouble spots by performing one or more of the following: changing the sparge-steam flow rate, changing the inert-gas flow rate, changing the direction of feeding of the inert gas, and adding an additional inert gas manifold; and g) repeating steps d) through f) until the concentration of steam at the product entry point is less than a predetermined maximum acceptable steam concentration.