OctoCore IF-Chill
OctoCoreCooling Tunnel Rapidly cool food products below 5°C with a high-volume of ice-cold water, ensuring superior quality, higher yield, reliable food safety, and efficient energy use with the OctoCore IF-Chill.
What is an OctoCore IF-Chill?
In the food industry OctoCore IF-Chill is a piece of equipment used to rapidly cool food products, often after blanching, cooking, or other heat treatments, by circulating chilled water over or around them. This quick temperature reduction helps maintain food quality, retain nutrients, improve yield, and ensure food safety, while also enabling more efficient downstream processes such as IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) freezing.
What makes the OctoCore IF-Chill different
The combination of precise temperature control, efficient water management, and gentle handling makes the OctoCore IF-Chill a standout solution for pre-cooling products before freezing. It caters to industries where product quality and yield are critical, distinguishing it from systems that might prioritize speed over care or use harsher methods.
Efficient Water Management
Filtered and Recirculated Water: The system uses a filtration and recirculation process, ensuring the water is clean and used efficiently, reducing waste and ensuring consistent cooling.
Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE): The PHE provides a steady supply of ice-cold water at a temperature of 1°C. This precise control ensures the product cools uniformly and quickly without compromising quality.
Cross-Flow Water System
The OctoCore cross-flow water system results in the quickest possible chilling of the product. The high volume of filtered and recirculated 1°C water is distributed evenly across the whole width and length of the chiller; deluging the product and immediately exiting the chiller to be re-chilled by the PHE. The temperature increase of the water after passing through the product does not exceed 4°C, requiring little energy for re-chilling. The water flowing through the chiller has the exact same temperature in every part of the IF-Chill.
Rainshower System
The rainshower system guarantees quickest heat transfer, allowing accurate temperature control within 0.2°C of the set temperatures. The water falls gently over the product by means of gravitation only, therefore product quality is not compromised. Additionally, the rainshower system serves a product cleaning function.
Improved Yield and Product Quality
Gravity-Based Water Distribution: Water is allowed to fall gently over the product using gravity, avoiding the need for mechanical agitation. This minimizes the risk of product damage, maintaining its appearance and texture.
No Mechanical Agitation: By avoiding harsh mechanical movement, the product retains its natural shape, structure, and quality, which is particularly important for delicate items like fruits, vegetables, or seafood.
Better IQF Results: A lower core temperature translates to more efficient IQF freezing, resulting in less dehydration or product weight loss during freezing.
Higher Yield: Minimal damage and reduced water loss during the process ensure that more of the product’s weight is retained, leading to higher yields for producers.
Flexible, Easy-to-Clean Design
The IF-Chill’s modular construction and accessible interior components enable quick changeovers between products and simple cleaning routines. Its open design reduces downtime for maintenance, enhances overall hygiene, and supports compliance with strict food safety regulations. This flexibility in operation and upkeep allows food processors to adapt swiftly to varying product types and volumes, maintaining efficiency and product integrity.
