Energy absorptive components for radio frequency heating of packaged articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio frequency (RF) energy heating systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting and launching RF energy due to the wavelength, which affects the heating process for articles, leading to inefficiencies and uneven heating.
Innovation Solution
A process and system that involves passing articles through a liquid contact zone with an initial thermal regulation zone, an RF heating zone, and a subsequent thermal regulation zone, where RF energy is used to increase the temperature of the articles by at least 20°C, with a nonlinear travel path and energy-absorptive components to enhance energy absorption and uniform heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If RF energy is used to heat articles, then heating efficiency is improved, but wavelength transmission difficulties cause uneven heating and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces energy-absorptive components as intermediaries that first absorb RF energy and then transfer it to articles through thermal conduction. This mediator approach resolves the transmission difficulties of RF energy by using components with tailored dielectric properties to couple RF energy efficiently to the articles, eliminating uneven heating while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct RF electromagnetic heating with a hybrid approach combining RF energy absorption by contact members and subsequent thermal conduction to articles. This substitution of direct electromagnetic heating with thermal conduction eliminates wavelength-related transmission issues while preserving heating efficiency
2Productivity
If articles are heated rapidly with RF energy, then production rate is improved, but thermal degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using energy-absorptive components with spatially distributed dielectric properties that absorb RF energy at different rates. This creates localized heating zones that gradually transfer heat to articles, enabling rapid overall heating while preventing excessive localized temperatures that cause thermal degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the sequential process of RF energy absorption by contact members followed by thermal conduction to articles. This periodic energy transfer mechanism allows controlled heating rates that achieve high production rates while minimizing thermal degradation through gradual heat distribution
3Manufacturing precision
If energy-absorptive components are added to enhance heating, then heating uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing energy-absorptive components that serve multiple functions: absorbing RF energy, storing thermal energy, and conducting heat to articles. These multi-functional components improve heating uniformity without proportionally increasing device complexity, as single components perform multiple heating-related tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials with specific dielectric properties for energy-absorptive components. These composite materials are engineered to optimize both RF energy absorption and thermal conduction properties, achieving superior heating uniformity while keeping component design straightforward through material selection rather than complex structural designs
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 system achieves efficient and uniform heating of articles, with the average temperature at the geometric center increasing by at least 20°C and then decreasing by at least 10°C, while maintaining spatial efficiency and high production rates, minimizing thermal degradation and energy absorption rates.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the article contact members comprises an energy-absorptive component having a dielectric constant in the range of 20 to 150 and a dielectric loss factor in the range of 10 to 1500
Implementation Method 2
heating the articles on the convey line with RF energy in the RF heating zone to thereby increase the average temperature at the geometric center of the articles by at least 20° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.