Electromagnetic Biomaterial Heating Conduit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for effective thermal preservation methods that can achieve long shelf stability at ambient temperatures for heterogeneous and multiphase foods and biomaterials, particularly in heating flowing materials efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an electromagnetic system with applicators and conduits designed to absorb and distribute electromagnetic energy continuously, ensuring uniform heating and preventing energy loss, with termination members to control energy flow, and a conduit design that prioritizes electromagnetic energy concentration at the bottom to enhance heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used for heterogeneous and multiphase foods and biomaterials, then thermal preservation can be achieved, but the heating is inefficient and does not achieve uniform temperature distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/conductive heating systems with an electromagnetic heating system. The electromagnetic applicators generate electromagnetic fields that directly heat the heterogeneous and multiphase materials through dielectric heating, eliminating the inefficiencies of conventional thermal conduction methods and achieving both high heating efficiency and uniform temperature distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple electromagnetic applicators positioned at different locations within the processing system, each targeting specific zones of the heterogeneous material. This allows for localized electromagnetic energy application that ensures uniform heating throughout the multiphase material, addressing the temperature distribution uniformity issue while maintaining high overall heating efficiency.
2Speed
If electromagnetic energy is applied to heat heterogeneous materials, then heating speed increases, but energy loss occurs without proper termination members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful electromagnetic energy loss into a beneficial effect by installing termination members that absorb and dissipate stray electromagnetic energy as heat within the material. This prevents energy waste while maintaining the high heating speed achieved through electromagnetic heating, effectively turning energy loss into useful thermal energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The termination members act as intermediary components between the electromagnetic applicators and the surrounding environment. They intercept and manage electromagnetic energy that would otherwise be lost, converting it into beneficial heat while preventing interference with the main heating process, thus preserving both heating speed and energy efficiency.
3Productivity
If electromagnetic energy concentration is increased at the bottom of the conduit, then heating efficiency improves, but hot spots may form without proper distribution control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent intentionally creates local quality variations in electromagnetic energy distribution by concentrating energy at the bottom of the conduit where heating is needed most. The specific geometric configuration and material properties at different locations are optimized to achieve superior heating efficiency while preventing harmful hot spots through controlled energy localization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in material parameters (such as dielectric properties and thermal conductivity) and electromagnetic field parameters (frequency, power density) to optimize energy distribution. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves enhanced heating efficiency at the bottom of the conduit while preventing the formation of harmful hot spots through parameter optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach achieves thermal preservation and sterilization by maintaining consistent temperature differences across the material, ensuring commercial sterility and long-term shelf stability while reducing hot spots and processing time, thus enhancing the quality and safety of the treated products.
Implementation Method 1
the heterogeneous materials absorb electromagnetic energy from the first applicator and absorb electromagnetic energy from the second applicator
Implementation Method 2
A first termination member may be attached to the termination end of the first applicator so that no electromagnetic energy transfers from the first applicator to the second applicator
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and method for thermal preservation (sterilization) of heterogenous and multiphase foods and biomaterials in order to achieve their shelf stability at ambient level temperatures. Flowing heterogenous, multiphase foods and biomaterials are exposed to single or multiple stages of electromagnetic energy under continuous flow conditions within conduits passing through the electromagnetic energy exposure chambers.