College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Electrical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Electrical Engineering
Date
12-2023
Primary Advisor
Dean Arakaki, College of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Marie Yeung, College of Science and Mathematics, Biological Sciences Department
Abstract/Summary
For Third World inhabitants, access to safe dry goods such as grain flour can be difficult. These foods are often processed or stored in unsanitary conditions which can lead to harmful microbial growth. Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a promising food pasteurization method that utilizes high intensity electric fields to eliminate harmful microbes. PEF pasteurizers are utilized commercially exclusively for wet foods [1-5]. A portable battery powered PEF pasteurizer designed for dry goods could be deployed to remote villages to reduce the risk of foodborne illness or death. This project successfully developed a prototype non-portable test system for the Biological Sciences Department to assess PEF pasteurization effectiveness on bleached white flour. The system’s initial specifications were to generate monopolar or bipolar 6kV maximum, 20µs wide minimum (bipolar), 10µs wide minimum (monopolar), 1kHz maximum repetitive pulse across a 2mm wide electroporation cuvette exposure chamber (30kV/cm). However, due to inverter switch cost, the cuvette width, and cuvette retained charge these specifications were not achieved. Only a monopolar 950V maximum (4.75kV/cm), 10ms minimum wide, 100Hz minimum repetitive pulse was achieved.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/eesp/621
PEF Cuvette Chamber Assembly
Included in
Electrical and Electronics Commons, Food Microbiology Commons, Food Processing Commons, Power and Energy Commons