Apparatus and method for radiation processing of fluent food products

1. An apparatus for radiation processing of fluent food products comprising:

a radiation source for emitting a radiation energy;

a radiation chamber defining a product flow path and having an inlet, an outlet, a first wall, and a second wall with the first wall being positioned between the radiation source and the second wall, at least a portion of the first wall being transmissive to at least a fraction of the radiation energy emitted by the radiation source to permit the radiation energy to pass into the product flow path,

wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall extends about the radiation source at an angle of less than 360° and has an inner surface configured in a way that the radiation source is an equidistance from substantially the entirety of the inner surface of the transmissive portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall is semi-cylindrical in shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the product flow path has a substantially constant depth.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the substantially constant depth is approximately 3 inches (0.0762 meter) or less.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall is a half cylinder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a source of fluent food product operably connected to the inlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the fluent food product is selected from the group consisting of pastes, liquids, powders, granular materials, gels, and semisolids.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fluent food product is powder infant formula.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor means in the product flow path for measuring a characteristic of the radiation energy emitted by the radiation source.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of radiation power, radiation dose, radiation intensity, and radiation energy.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sensor means is embedded in, secured to, or positioned at or near the surface of the second wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall transmits the radiation energy produced by the radiation source without a significant loss in energy.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of quartz, glass, synthetic polymers, laminates, heavy metal plates, and heavy metal foils.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wall is semi-cylindrical in shape having a central axis located outside of the product flow path, the radiation source being positioned along the central axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall is semi-spherical in shape having a center point located outside of the product flow cavity, the radiation source being positioned at or near the center point.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling flow rate of fluent food product through the product flow path.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the flow rate control means is operably coupled to either the inlet or the outlet.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for facilitating flow of fluent food product through the product flow path via the inlet and outlet.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for facilitating flow of fluent food product comprises a pump adapted to create a pressure or vacuum differential between the inlet and the outlet.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is selected from a group consisting of an electron beam source, a gamma ray source, and an x-ray source.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall is a half sphere.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second wall is substantially non-transmissive to radiation energy produced by the radiation source.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

means to adjust the depth of the product flow path by either expanding the second wall and/or retracting the first wall;

a source of fluent food product operably connected to the inlet;

a sensor means for measuring radiation energy levels in the product flow path, the sensor means embedded within, secured to, or positioned at or near the surface of the second wall;

means for facilitating flow of fluent food product through the product flow path; and

means for controlling flow rate of the fluent food product through the product flow path;

wherein the second wall is concave and the product flow path has a substantially constant depth of approximately 3 inches (0.0762 meter) or less;

wherein the transmissive portion of the first wall transmits the radiation energy produced by the radiation source without a significant loss in energy;

wherein the first wall is a semi-spherical shape having a center point that is outside of the product flow path, the radiation source being positioned at or near the center point;

wherein the radiation source is an electron beam source;

wherein the inlet forms a vertical passageway into a top of the product flow path; and wherein the outlet forms a vertical passageway out of a bottom of the product flow path;

wherein the concave surface is generally concentric to the convex surface;

wherein a distance separates the radiation source from the first wall; and

wherein the inlet is positioned to introduce the fluent food product into the product flow path in contact with the inner surface of the transmissive portion of the first wall.