PEF Treatment Pan Docking for Safe, Clean Food Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for treating food products with pulsed electric fields are not user-friendly, safe, or easily cleanable, and are not suitable for both small and large kitchens, as they lack modular design and concealed electrical components.
Innovation Solution
A treatment system comprising a treatment pan with a ground electrode and a voltage electrode, connected to a PEF-generator through concealed power lines, and a coupling station with jaw elements for secure positioning, using food-grade polycarbonate and nickel electrodes with bronze electrical lines, and electronic safety means to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the treatment pan is designed with removable cover and modular components, then ease of cleaning is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment pan is divided into separable components including a removable cover, bottom, and sidewall sections. This segmentation allows each component to be easily removed and cleaned independently, resolving the contradiction by making cleaning easier while the modular design actually simplifies the overall structure rather than increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If electrical lines are concealed in the treatment pan and docking station, then safety is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical lines are nested within channels formed in the treatment pan and docking station components. The power lines are embedded in the pan structure and connect to electrodes, while the docking station contains corresponding channels for the connecting lines. This nesting approach improves safety by concealing all electrical components while maintaining ease of manufacture through integrated molding of the channels into the plastic components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system is designed for modular application in both small and large kitchens, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment pan system is designed as a universal module that can be used in various kitchen settings from small household kitchens to large institutional kitchens. The standardized docking station interface and interchangeable treatment pans create a flexible system that adapts to different spaces and applications without requiring complex redesign, thus improving adaptability while keeping the modular architecture simple.
4Reliability
If jaw elements are provided for secure positioning of treatment pan, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station features separate upper and lower jaw elements that independently engage with the treatment pan. These segmented clamping mechanisms provide secure positioning through distributed contact points while allowing simple insertion and removal of the pan, thus improving reliability without significantly complicating the operation.
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 provides a user-friendly, safe, and easy-to-clean treatment of food products, suitable for both small and large kitchens, with concealed electrical components and modular design, ensuring safe and controlled application of pulsed electric fields.
Implementation Method 1
Applying a pulsed electric field is often referred to as PEF: Pulsed Electric Field. The food to be treated is for this purpose enclosed in a chamber in which a ground electrode and a voltage electrode are arranged. Such a field strength is used that pores are created in the cell membranes of the plant cellular material.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
System for treating a food product by means of PEF - Pulsed Electric Field -, in which the system comprises a treatment pan (2) and a coupling station (3) i.e. docking station of a PEF-generator; the treatment pan (2) comprising a first (8) and a second (9) passage opening, a removable cover (10), a ground electrode (11), a voltage electrode (12), a first power line (14), a second power line (15), wherein the first power line (14) extends through the first passage opening (8) to the outside and the second power line (15) extends through the second passage opening (9) to the outside; the coupling-station (3) is arranged for receiving the treatment pan (2) in the use position for the treatment of food (7), the coupling station (3) comprises connecting lines ( 16, 18) to the PEF-generator (17), in such a way that in the use position of the treatment pan (2) a pulsed electric field is transmitted from the PEF-generator (17) to the electrodes (11, 12) in the treatment pan (2).