Electric Field Additive Infusion for Uniform Snack Product Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for applying additives to snack products result in uneven distribution, leading to lower product quality and the need for higher additive dosages to compensate for lack of penetration into the food's interior.
Innovation Solution
A method involving pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment to condition food, introducing an oil-soluble additive during electroporation, followed by adjusting the desired oil content to achieve homogeneous distribution and reduce preservation energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional mixing methods are used to introduce additives into snack products, then the mixing process is simple and quick, but the additive distribution is non-uniform and incorporation is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical mixing with an electric field-based treatment. A high-voltage electric field is applied to the snack product to induce dipole moments in additive particles, causing them to align and embed into the product matrix through dielectric heating and electrostatic forces, achieving uniform distribution without mechanical mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and electrical properties of both the snack product and additive by applying a high-voltage electric field. This creates temporary dipoles in non-polar materials and induces polarization, enabling additive incorporation through electrostatic attraction and dielectric heating rather than mechanical forces
2Productivity
If high-speed mixing is used to improve additive incorporation, then mixing time is reduced, but additive distribution remains non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical mixing with an electric field-based treatment. A high-voltage electric field is applied to the snack product to induce dipole moments in additive particles, causing them to align and embed into the product matrix through dielectric heating and electrostatic forces, achieving uniform distribution without mechanical mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the electric field treatment before final product formation or packaging. By inducing dipoles and establishing electrostatic alignment in advance, the additive distribution is locked into place during subsequent cooling or setting, ensuring uniform distribution without requiring prolonged mixing
3Manufacturing precision
If electric field treatment is applied to introduce additives, then additive distribution uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pulsed electric field treatment rather than continuous application. Short high-voltage pulses are applied to induce dipoles and achieve additive alignment, then the field is turned off to allow embedding. This periodic application reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dielectric heating effects where the electric field causes molecular rotation and friction in polar molecules, generating heat that facilitates additive embedding. This thermal effect during electric field treatment enhances incorporation efficiency while the field is active, reducing the need for prolonged or high-intensity field application
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
The method ensures uniform distribution of additives within the food, improving product quality and allowing lower additive dosages while potentially replacing energy-intensive preservation methods with gentler alternatives.
Implementation Method 1
it has surprisingly been found that non-polar materials, in particular snack products such as potato chips, can be treated with an electric field in order to introduce dipoles into the material and thereby to align the material in the direction of the field
Implementation Method 2
treat the material with a high voltage electric field in order to induce dipoles and thereby to align the material in the direction of the field
Implementation Method 3
treat the material with a high voltage electric field in order to induce dipoles and thereby to align the material in the direction of the field. The material can then be embedded in the direction of the field or the material can be heated
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the production of a food, in particular a snack product. In order to uniformly distribute additives in a food, in particular a snack product, and to achieve a more homogeneous product quality, the method according to the invention comprises the following steps: conditioning the food by applying an electric field; introducing an additive into the food; and preserving the food after the additive has been introduced.