Electrostatic Food Preservation Apparatus for Nutrient Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional food preservation methods, such as refrigeration and sterilization, often damage beneficial probiotics and nutritional ingredients, leading to a loss of original nutritional value in foods, especially for climacteric fruits that continue to ripen and rot.

Innovation Solution

A food preservation apparatus utilizing electrostatic field processing, which includes a case body with a conveyor belt, electric field generation apparatuses, and a control system to adjust voltage, current, and duration of the electric field for different foods, allowing for precise preservation without denaturing nutritional content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional refrigeration and sterilization methods are used to preserve food, then the shelf life of food is extended, but beneficial probiotics and nutritional ingredients are damaged or denatured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf lifeVSAvoidnutritional value

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies electrostatic field parameters (voltage, current, treatment time) to preserve food without using conventional thermal or chemical methods. By adjusting the electrostatic field parameters, the system extends shelf life while maintaining nutritional integrity, resolving the contradiction between preservation duration and nutritional reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical/thermal preservation systems (refrigeration, sterilization) with an electrostatic field-based system. This substitution eliminates the need for high temperatures or extreme cold that damage nutrients, while still achieving extended shelf life through non-thermal electrostatic treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If high-temperature sterilization is used to preserve food, then microbial contamination is reduced, but nutritional ingredients are denatured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial contaminationVSAvoidnutritional value

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal sterilization with electrostatic field treatment. The electrostatic field achieves microbial control through electrical forces rather than thermal denaturation, eliminating the trade-off between sterilization effectiveness and nutritional preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If adjustable electrostatic field processing is implemented for different food types, then preservation precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of electrostatic field parameters (voltage, current, time) based on food type and characteristics. The control system dynamically modifies treatment parameters to optimize preservation for different foods, achieving high precision without requiring entirely separate systems for each food type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs a universal electrostatic field treatment apparatus that can handle multiple food types through parameter adjustment rather than requiring dedicated equipment for each food. The single device performs multiple preservation functions by varying electrostatic parameters, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 apparatus effectively preserves foods by maintaining their nutritional value through adjustable electrostatic field processing, suitable for both similar and diverse food types, while preventing spoilage in climacteric fruits.

Implementation Method 1

at least one electric field generation apparatus, configured to generate a local electric field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS20230232847A1Food preservation apparatus and system thereof

Publication Date: 2023.07.27 NAT PINGTUNG UNIV OF SCI & TECH

AI summary

A food preservation apparatus includes: a case body, forming an accommodating space inside, and including an inlet and an outlet in communication with the accommodating space; a transfer apparatus, including a conveyor belt and a drive assembly; at least one electric field generation apparatus, configured to generate a local electric field, the electric field generation apparatus being located in the accommodating space, and including an insulating substrate and a plurality of electrode plates, where the insulating substrate is disposed on an inner side wall surface of the case body on a different side from the part of the conveyor belt, and the plurality of electrode plates is arranged at intervals on the insulating substrate in the direction from the inlet to the outlet; and a control apparatus, electrically connected to the drive assembly and the plurality of electrode plates.