Microwave Sterilization Carrier With Apertured Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microwave systems for food sterilization or pasteurization face inefficiencies in handling items of different sizes and shapes, leading to non-uniform heating and long processing times, and existing transport carriers do not effectively secure and efficiently couple energy to varying food pouches.
Innovation Solution
A novel transport carrier design featuring a carrier base with cross members and tray members made of metal or metal alloys, with apertures to accommodate items of various sizes and shapes, used in a processing system that applies microwave energy while immersed in a fluid under hydrostatic pressure to prevent steam explosion and ensure uniform heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional heating methods (hot air, hot water, or steam) are used for sterilization or pasteurization, then the food products can be heated and treated, but the food products suffer from poor taste, texture, color, or smell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical heating systems (hot air, hot water, steam) with an electromagnetic field-based microwave heating system. The microwave generator produces electromagnetic energy that directly heats the food product through dielectric heating, eliminating the need for thermal contact with heating media and thereby preventing quality degradation from traditional thermal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental heating parameter from thermal conduction/convection to electromagnetic radiation absorption. By using microwave frequency electromagnetic fields, the system achieves rapid internal heating of food products, transforming the heating mechanism from external thermal transfer to internal electromagnetic energy conversion, thus preserving food quality while ensuring sterilization
2Reliability
If traditional heating methods are used for sterilization or pasteurization, then the treatment can be applied, but the energy efficiency is poor and processing times are long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces inefficient thermal heating systems with microwave electromagnetic heating, which directly energizes water molecules and other dipolar substances within the food product. This substitution enables rapid volumetric heating throughout the product rather than slow external-to-internal heat transfer, dramatically reducing processing time and improving energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The microwave generator operates by producing periodic electromagnetic waves at microwave frequencies (typically 2.45 GHz). This periodic electromagnetic field causes continuous oscillation and collision of dipolar molecules, generating rapid and uniform heating throughout the food product, thereby achieving fast and efficient sterilization or pasteurization
3Ease of operation
If existing transport carriers are used, then items can be transported, but they cannot effectively secure and efficiently couple energy to varying food pouches of different sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The transport carrier is designed with a universal structure featuring adjustable supports and positioning elements that can accommodate various food pouch sizes and shapes. The carrier base includes multiple adjustable supports that can be repositioned to securely hold different product configurations, enabling a single carrier design to handle diverse packaging formats efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The transport carrier incorporates dynamic and adjustable components, such as movable supports and reconfigurable positioning mechanisms, that can be adapted during operation to match different food pouch dimensions. This dynamic adjustability allows the carrier to optimize energy coupling and secure various product sizes and shapes effectively
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 solution enables robust, efficient, and uniform heating of food items with reduced heating times, preventing steam explosion and improving energy coupling, thus addressing the inefficiencies of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave assembly configured to apply microwave energy to the one or more food items
Implementation Method 2
heating in such a manner can result in poor taste, texture, color, or smell of the food products. Also, such heating techniques can be energy inefficient and may require long processing times
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments are directed to a processing system and transport carrier components for sterilization or pasteurization. In particular, an example embodiment includes a transport carrier for carrying one or more items to be sterilized or pasteurized, wherein the transport carrier includes a carrier base and one or more cross members coupled to and extending between sides of the carrier base. In addition, the transport carrier includes a tray member configured from at least one material of construction selected from a metal, a metal alloy, and a plastic, wherein the tray member extends between ends along the sides of the carrier base, and wherein the tray member further comprises one or more apertures configured to receive the one or more items to be sterilized or pasteurized.