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The invention provides methods and devices for heating or cooling viscous materials such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices include a heat exchanger comprising a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer a

The invention provides methods and devices for heating or cooling viscous materials such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices include a heat exchanger comprising a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.

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1. A method for making a food product comprising: introducing a meat emulsion into a heat exchanger;subjecting the meat emulsion to a high pressure of at least 50 psi in the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising (i) a first energy exchanging plate,(ii) a second energy exchanging plate attach

1. A method for making a food product comprising: introducing a meat emulsion into a heat exchanger;subjecting the meat emulsion to a high pressure of at least 50 psi in the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising (i) a first energy exchanging plate,(ii) a second energy exchanging plate attached to the first energy exchanging plate and separated by a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate,(iii) a third energy exchanging plate attached to the second energy exchanging plate and separated by a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the second energy exchanging plate and the third energy exchanging plate, wherein the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the first spacer and the second spacer form a first temperature controlled passage in which a first portion of the meat emulsion is subjected to a first temperature as the first portion of the meat emulsion passes through the heat exchanger, and the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer form a second temperature controlled passage in which a second portion of the meat emulsion is subjected to a second temperature as the second portion of the meat emulsion passes through the heat exchanger,(iv) a first end plate defining a first product inlet into the first temperature controlled passage and a second product inlet into the second temperature controlled passage,(v) a second end plate defining a first product outlet from the first temperature controlled passage and a second product outlet from the second temperature controlled passage, the first and second end plates are positioned perpendicular to the first, second and third energy exchanging plates such that the first product inlet, the first product outlet and the first temperature controlled passage are positioned in the same plane, and(vi) an inlet manifold comprising a front portion defining a manifold inlet, the inlet manifold further comprising a rear portion that is a manifold plate defining manifold outlets comprising a first manifold outlet fluidly connected to the first product inlet of the first end plate and a second manifold outlet fluidly connected to the second product inlet of the first end plate;passing a first fluid through a first temperature controlling passage in a first portion of the first energy exchanging plate;passing a second fluid through a second temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first temperature controlling passage, the first temperature controlling passage is positioned in a second portion of the first energy exchanging plate downstream from the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate, and the second temperature controlling passage is downstream from the first temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the second temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the first temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage;passing a third fluid through a third temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first and second temperature controlling passages, the third temperature controlling passage is positioned in a first portion of the second energy exchanging plate;passing a fourth fluid through a fourth temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first, second and third temperature controlling passages, the fourth temperature controlling passage is positioned in a second portion of the second energy exchanging plate downstream from the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate, and the fourth temperature controlling passage is downstream from the third temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the fourth temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the third temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage;controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the first fluid separately from controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the second fluid; andcontrolling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the third fluid separately from controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the fourth fluid. 2. The method of claim 1 comprising passing a fifth fluid through a fifth temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first, second, third and fourth temperature controlling passages, the fifth temperature controlling passage is positioned in a third portion of the first energy exchanging plate downstream from the second portion of the first energy exchanging plate, and the fifth temperature controlling passage is downstream from the second temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the fifth temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the second temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate and the second portion of the first energy exchanging plate define individual temperature controlled zones. 4. The method of claim 3 comprising controlling temperatures of the individual temperature controlled zones such that a temperature of the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate is different than a temperature of the second portion of the first energy exchanging plate. 5. The method of claim 1 comprising passing a fifth fluid through a fifth temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first, second, third and fourth temperature controlling passages, the fifth temperature controlling passage is positioned in a first portion of the third energy exchanging plate, and the first and second portions of the first energy exchanging plate and the first portion of the third energy exchanging plate define individual temperature controlled zones, wherein the first temperature controlling passage is positioned on an opposite side of the first temperature controlled passage from the third temperature controlling passage, and the third temperature controlling passage is positioned on an opposite side of the second temperature controlled passage from the fifth temperature controlling passage. 6. The method of claim 5 comprising controlling temperatures of the individual temperature controlled zones such that a temperature of the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate, a temperature of the second portion of the first energy exchanging plate, and a temperature of the first portion of the third energy exchanging plate are different than each other. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first pressure plate attached to the first energy exchanging plate on an opposite side of the first energy exchanging plate from the second energy exchanging plate, and the heat exchanger comprises a second pressure plate attached to the third energy exchanging plate on an opposite side of the third energy exchanging plate from the second energy exchanging plate. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first and second end plates are positioned perpendicular to the first and second pressure plates. 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first pressure plate is connected to the second pressure plate by one or more bolts, screws or clamps that pass through the first and second pressure plates and the first and second energy exchanging plates. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first energy exchanging plate has a length defined by a first end and a second end, and the first pressure plate extends from the first end of the first energy exchanging plate to the second end of the first energy exchanging plate. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first end plate abuts the first end of the first energy exchanging plate, and the second end plate abuts the second end of the first energy exchanging plate. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the second energy exchanging plate has a length defined by a first end and a second end, and the second pressure plate extends from the first end of the second energy exchanging plate to the second end of the second energy exchanging plate. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate are sealed along the first spacer and the second spacer to withstand internal pressures in the temperature controlled passage from about 50 to about 1,500 psi. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger comprises a transitioning gasket attached to the first product inlet. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the second product inlet, the second product outlet and the second temperature controlled passage are positioned in the same plane. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein: the front portion of the inlet manifold comprises a first interior surface and a second interior surface within the front portion that face each other, define the manifold inlet and are parallel to each other;the manifold plate comprises a third interior surface and a fourth interior surface within the manifold plate that face each other, define the first manifold outlet and are parallel to each other; and a fifth interior surface and sixth interior surface within the manifold plate that face each other, define the second manifold outlet and are parallel to each other; andthe first interior surface is continuous with the third interior surface of the inlet manifold, the second interior surface is continuous with the sixth interior surface of the inlet manifold, and the fourth interior surface is continuous with the fifth interior surface of the inlet manifold. 17. A method for making a meat emulsion product comprising: forming a meat emulsion containing protein and fat;comminuting and heating the meat emulsion in an emulsion mill;transferring the meat emulsion from the emulsion mill into a heat exchanger and subjecting the meat emulsion to a pressure of at least 50 psi in the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising (i) a first energy exchanging plate,(ii) a second energy exchanging plate attached to the first energy exchanging plate and separated by a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate,(iii) a third energy exchanging plate attached to the second energy exchanging plate and separated by a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the second energy exchanging plate and the third energy exchanging plate, wherein the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the first spacer and the second spacer form a first temperature controlled passage in which a first portion of the meat emulsion is subjected to a first temperature as the first portion of the meat emulsion passes through the heat exchanger, and the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer form a second temperature controlled passage in which a second portion of the meat emulsion is subjected to a second temperature as the second portion of the meat emulsion passes through the heat exchanger,(iv) a first end plate defining a first product inlet into the first temperature controlled passage and a second product inlet into the second temperature controlled passage,(v) a second end plate defining a first product outlet from the first temperature controlled passage and a second product outlet from the second temperature controlled passage, and the first and second end plates are positioned perpendicular to the first, second and third energy exchanging plates such that the first product inlet, the first product outlet and the first temperature controlled passage are positioned in the same plane, and(vi) an inlet manifold comprising a front portion defining a manifold inlet, the inlet manifold further comprising a rear portion that is a manifold plate defining manifold outlets comprising a first manifold outlet fluidly connected to the first product inlet of the first end plate and a second manifold outlet fluidly connected to the second product inlet of the first end plate;passing a first fluid through a first temperature controlling passage in a first portion of the first energy exchanging plate;passing a second fluid through a second temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first temperature controlling passage, the second temperature controlling passage is positioned in a second portion of the first energy exchanging plate downstream from the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate, and the second temperature controlling passage is downstream from the first temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the second temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the first temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage;passing a third fluid through a third temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first and second temperature controlling passages, the third temperature controlling passage is positioned in a first portion of the second energy exchanging plate;passing a fourth fluid through a fourth temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first, second and third temperature controlling passages, the fourth temperature controlling passage is positioned in a second portion of the second energy exchanging plate downstream from the first portion of the first energy exchanging plate, and the fourth temperature controlling passage is downstream from the third temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the fourth temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the third temperature controlling passage to the second end plate along the first temperature controlled passage;controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the first fluid separately from controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the second fluid;controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the third fluid separately from controlling at least one of a temperature or a flowrate of the fourth fluid;discharging the first portion of the meat emulsion from the first outlet of the heat exchanger; anddischarging the second portion of the meat emulsion from a second outlet of the heat exchanger. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second product inlet, the second product outlet and the second temperature controlled passage are positioned in the same plane.