Continuous Small Pelagics Brine Freezer
Continuous individual quick freezing (IQF) brine immersion tunnel at -18 °C for small pelagic fish (sardines, anchovies, mackerel, horse mackerel, sprats), with forced-air drying and subcooling tunnel at -32 °C. Heavy-duty sanitary AISI 316L stainless steel build.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Built entirely from AISI 316L stainless steel offering maximum resistance against concentrated brine and marine corrosion.
- Freezing tank with high-density polyurethane injected insulation minimizing thermal loss, featuring integrated cooling coils and refrigeration circuit.
- Continuous food-grade modular polyethylene belt conveyor with acetal drive sprockets, sealed stainless steel bearing units, and direct-drive variable-speed hydraulic motor.
- Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) wear strips and slide guides with ultra-low friction to safeguard delicate fish skin and scales.
- Submerged guided travel system preventing small-sized fish (anchovies, small sardines) from floating, ensuring 100% uniform thermal transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How does a continuous brine freezer for small pelagics work?
The fish is continuously immersed in circulating liquid brine and individually quick-frozen (IQF) at approximately -18 °C. It immediately passes into a forced-air drying and sub-cooling tunnel at -32 °C, which leaves residual surface moisture below 5% to prevent cluster freezing or packaging frost.
Which small pelagic species can be frozen?
It is specially engineered for delicate, oily small pelagic fish: sardine, anchovy, mackerel, horse mackerel and sprat. Thermal parameters and belt residence times are easily adjusted on the touchscreen with dedicated recipes for each coastal fishery season.
How does it adapt to different fish size gradings?
By continuously adjusting conveyor speeds and immersion times with variable-speed direct drive hydraulic motors, calibrated per size grade (pieces/kg). Submerged travel ensures symmetrical ice front propagation towards the core.
What is the freezing tunnel made of?
Entirely in AISI 316L stainless steel for maximum resistance against saline corrosion. The tank features high-density injected polyurethane insulation, food-grade modular polyethylene belts with acetal sprockets, and low-friction UHMW-PE slide guides that protect delicate fish skin.
What advantages does it bring in fish quality and yield?
Ultra-fast freezing locks in cellular moisture and halts lipid oxidation, reducing drip loss to under 1%. It preserves silver skin shine, flesh firmness, and eye brightness. Continuous 24/7 duty cycle easily absorbs massive fishery landing surges.
How is the frozen fish handled at outfeed?
At the outfeed of the -32 °C subcooling tunnel, fish emerge individually quick-frozen (IQF) and non-clumped, ready for direct bag packing, carton boxing, dynamic checkweighing, robotic palletizing, or subsequent canning lines.
Looking to freeze small pelagic fish continuously with maximum energy efficiency?
Each continuous freezing tunnel is custom-engineered for your target small pelagic species (sardines, anchovies, mackerel, horse mackerel) and production throughput.
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