Spray Chiller – 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 liquid is sprayed onto the product to achieve rapid cooling
Energy source: Electricity/ some Natural Gas
Energy Intensity: 250-1,700 Btu/lb of product
Spray chillers are used to freeze products such as poultry that are put in plastic bags and sprayed with a chilled liquid such as propylene glycol, brine, glycerol, or calcium chloride solution. The bagged product is usually being conveyed into a tunnel freezer where it is sprayed with a chilled liquid. After freezing, the bag is sprayed with water to remove the chilled fluid. To ensure safety, the bag must be sturdy and secure to ensure that the chilled fluid does not contact the product. Also, the chilled liquid must be non-toxic in case the bag has a small leak.