Solid-State RF Heating for Uniform Olive Paste Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating methods for substances like olive paste in vessels lead to fouling and uneven heating, affecting product quality due to local overheating.
Innovation Solution
A heating apparatus utilizing multiple solid-state radio frequency sources arranged equidistantly around a product chamber, with a control system to manage RF energy distribution, ensuring even heating and preventing overheating through precise control of amplitude, frequency, and phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional heating methods with heated sidewalls are used, then heating function is provided, but fouling builds up on sidewalls and local overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent solid-state RF sources arranged around the chamber, each contributing to distributed heating. This segmentation prevents concentration of heat in specific areas and eliminates dependency on heated sidewalls, thereby preventing fouling and ensuring uniform temperature distribution throughout the material.
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional mechanical/heated sidewall heating system is replaced with solid-state RF electromagnetic heating. This substitution eliminates direct contact between heating elements and material, preventing fouling while providing more uniform and controllable heating through electromagnetic energy distribution.
2Manufacturing precision
If solid-state RF sources are used, then uniform heating is achieved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sources and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple solid-state RF sources arranged around the chamber, with each source independently controllable. This segmentation allows precise control of energy distribution to achieve uniform heating, while the modular nature of solid-state sources simplifies comparison and maintenance relative to traditional magnetron systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operation of individual RF sources based on real-time temperature feedback from sensors. This dynamic control enables the system to compensate for variations in material properties and heating conditions, maintaining uniform heating while managing the complexity through intelligent automation.
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 prevents fouling and ensures uniform heating, maintaining product quality by efficiently distributing energy and adjusting to changes in the heating process, reducing energy loss and enhancing yield.
Implementation Method 1
A heating apparatus with a solid-state radio frequency (RF)-transistor(s) in a RF power amplifier... The antenna can be coupled to and/or located in a waveguide, wherein the antenna can radiate the microwaves into the waveguide... Compared to a magnetron, an advantages of a solid-state RF energy technology is a low voltage drive, semiconductor reliability and lower energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating apparatus, which heats a substance in a chamber. The present invention further relates to a food production line and a method to heat a substance with radio-frequency waves.