| abstract |
A system (50) for the processing of materials includes a freezing section (52) and a thawing section (54), with elongated channels extending through both sections (52, 54), and gates between the sections (52, 54) and at the output of the thawing section (54). Large blocks of frozen material are slid from the freezing section (52) to the thawing section (54); and a new batch of material is frozen with the heat from the freezing section (52) used to thaw the blocks of frozen material. A harvest bar (60) with dogs (64) extending into the frozen material traverses at least the freezing section (52), and spray nozzles associated with the harvest bar (60) may be used for cleaning the system (50). |