What is the CAB freezer?
The GEA Niro-Atlas CAB freezer
is the most common freezing method as it is developed especially for the coffee
industry:
• The CAB freezer is able to operate with the highest %
solids in the concentrate (45%)
• The CAB freezer will make the best
possible, gentle and even freezing of the concentrate securing that the
colour through the final frozen product is without variation.
• The CAB
freezer secures an optimal solubility and a very good stability of the final
product.
The CAB freezer is divided in three zones to secure the best
conditions for the freezing. The coffee concentrate is distributed on to a
moving belt, which carries the product through three sections/rooms with
different conditions:
Ante Room: For distribution of the
pre-frozen coffee concentrate. The temperature on the belt is equal to the
concentrate temperature which avoid “shock” to the concentrate due to fast
freezing of the sur-face.
Dehumidification room:
To avoid “snow” from the surface freezing of the concentrate. Snow will
accumulate in the cold room and makes the conditions for the automatics and
possible maintenance difficult.
Freezing zone (product freezing
room):
The product freezing room where the dedicated and
controlled air flow are guided to the concentrate on the belt and not to the
surroundings. This is secured by the special air-box system with individual
regulation.
The frozen concentrate is removed continuously as frozen flakes from the
freezer. These pre-broken flakes are led into a Granulator System cutting the flakes into the required
granulate size. The granulated pre-frozen coffee concentrate is loaded into the freeze dryer.