Importance

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Abstract

The defrosting apparatus of the present invention uses ohmic heating as operating principle, circulating an electric current through blocks of food. In the particular case of foods, electric current conduction capacity is low, which means that energy is dissipated into the material in the form of heat, thereby heating same. In this case, the block of frozen food acts as a resistor in the electrical circuit which opposes the passage of the current. The defrosting apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a plurality of compartments for receiving blocks of frozen food and for connecting said blocks to an electrical circuit by means of electrodes. In addition, the apparatus includes a plurality of heating modules, a module for controlling and monitoring variables, a plurality of power modules for supplying the necessary electrical energy, and a plurality of pneumatic modules for guaranteeing contact between the blocks of food and the electrodes of the power system. The heating modules are designed to receive the frozen blocks of food and to supply the electrical energy necessary to heat the material and to obtain the required temperature. The defrosting apparatus comprises a plurality of heating modules, depending on the capacity required and on the geometry of the blocks of food to be defrosted, and the number of modules may be between four and eight, but is not limited thereto. The module for controlling and monitoring variables is designed to record the behaviour of the variables that play a role in the defrosting process and the operation of the equipment. The equipment includes a single system that governs the entire operation thereof. The defrosting process for blocks of frozen foods is characterized by (i) placing the block of frozen food in a plurality of compartments, (ii) connecting said block to an electrical circuit by means of electrodes, (iii) guaranteeing contact between the frozen block of food and the electrodes, and (iv) circulating an electric current through the block of frozen food. Said electric current is that which is necessary to heat the frozen block of food and to obtain the necessary temperature.

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First Claim