Electric Field Microorganism Neutralization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inactivating microorganisms in fluids, such as pasteurization and electric field exposure, face challenges including energy inefficiency, uncontrollable treatment, and risk of contamination due to unpredictable electric field strengths and potential air or gas bubbles in the treated substance.
Innovation Solution
A method and arrangement that uses a non-conducting chamber with electrode plates and a control system to generate a controlled composite electric field, adjustable in strength and duration, ensuring effective exposure of pumpable media to an electric field while preventing contamination and air bubbles through pressure management and fault detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pasteurization heating is used to inactivate microorganisms, then microorganism destruction is achieved, but energy consumption increases and chemical composition changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter used for microorganism inactivation from thermal energy (heat) to electrical energy (electric field). By applying a controlled electric field with specific strength and duration, the system achieves microorganism destruction without the energy-intensive heating and cooling cycles required by pasteurization, thereby resolving the contradiction between effective sterilization and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal-mechanical pasteurization system with an electrical field system. Instead of using heating elements and cooling mechanisms, the system uses electrode plates connected to power supplies to generate a controlled electric field that directly inactivates microorganisms through electroporation, eliminating the need for thermal energy input and associated energy losses
2Reliability
If tube electrodes are used for electric field exposure, then microorganism treatment is achieved, but field strength control becomes difficult and treatment uniformity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the electric field system dynamically controllable by using power supplies with adjustable voltage output and programmable pulse duration. The control means can precisely regulate the electric field strength and exposure time based on specific treatment requirements, allowing optimal parameters to be selected for different microorganism types while ensuring uniform field distribution between parallel electrode plates
Solution Approach 2:
The invention divides the treatment system into separate controllable components: multiple power supplies that can be independently adjusted, parallel electrode plates that create a uniform field, and a control means that independently manages each power supply. This segmentation allows precise control of field strength and duration, resolving the contradiction between effective treatment and manufacturing precision
3Ease of operation
If electric field exposure is used without pressure management, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but contamination risk increases due to air or gas bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies pressure management as a preliminary action before electric field exposure. By pressurizing the pumpable medium before treatment, air and gas bubbles are removed from the liquid, ensuring complete submersion of the medium between electrode plates. This preliminary degassing action prevents contamination risks during treatment while maintaining operational simplicity, as the pressure control is automatically managed by the system
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 provides a cost-effective, controlled, and efficient method for neutralizing microorganisms in fluids, maintaining the quality of treated substances by ensuring consistent electric field exposure and preventing contamination, while reducing energy consumption and maintaining the chemical and taste integrity of treated products.
Implementation Method 1
A resulting composite voltage will appear between the first and second electrode plate, said resulting composite voltage will create an electric field between the first and second electrode plate. The pumpable medium is exposed to the electric field.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for the exposure of a pumpable medium to an electric field. The arrangement comprises, at least two power supplies (100) for the generation of electrical voltage, at least one non-conducting chamber (102) for pumping said pumpable medium, which said at least one chamber (102) is provided with a first (106) and a second electrode plate (108), a control means (104) for controlling said at least two power supplies (100). During control the control means (104), by synchronous control, establishes a series connection between at least two of said at least two power supplies (100), the first electrode plate (106) and the second electrode plate (108). A resulting composite voltage arises between the first (106) and the second electrode plate (108), which resulting composite voltage will result in an electric field between the first (106) and the second electrode plate (108). The pumpable medium is exposed to the electric field. A method for the exposure of a pumpable medium to an electric field is also provided.