Fluidized Bed Freezer – Fluid Chilling
Industry: Fruit and Vegetables (NAICS 3114) Meat (NAICS 3116)
NAICS process:
311411 Frozen Fruit and Vegetables
311612 Meat Processed from Carcasses
Process Brief: Chilled fluid is used in a fluidized bed to chill food products
Energy source: Electricity/ some Natural Gas
Energy Intensity: 250-1,700 Btu/lb of product
Fluid chilling combined with fluidized bed equipment can achieve very high rates of cooling. As in a chilled air system, the product is loaded onto a perforated tray or conveyor that will allow the flow of the chilled fluid. The upward flow of chilled fluid entrains the individual pieces and freezes them. The continuous movement helps to prevent clumping and speeds freezing.
The air is cooled using mechanical (electricity) or thermal (natural gas) methods. The chilled fluid is usually propylene glycol, brine, glycerol, or calcium chloride solution, depending on the product being frozen.
Source: Overview GRI-03/0075;