The invention is a method of cooling objects by spraying with a fluid to
obtain a desired cooling effect. The fluid may be sprayed directly or
indirectly on the objects. The fluid may be liquid nitrogen, liquid
argon, liquid oxygen, liquid carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof.
The fluid may include an additive that helps sanitize the object. This
additive may be an oxidizing agent such as ozone, chlorine, chlorine
compounds, hydrogen peroxide solutions, oxonia solutions, or combinations
thereof. The regulation may be by way of time or flow. The regulation may
involve equal time intervals of spraying or unequal time intervals of
spraying. The desired cooling effect may be to shock the surface
microorganisms to make them susceptible to concurrent or subsequent
treatments. The desired cooling effect may be to promote the destruction
or inactivation of surface microorganisms without cooling or freezing the
object throughout.
