Non-linear slotted waveguide for diverse application
AssigneeFlorida A&M University
InventorsSatyanarayan Dev, Vijaya Grama Seetharamiengar Raghavan, Yvan Gariepy, Valerie Orsat
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Abstract
Structures and methods of using a microwave pasteurization device, as well as related non-linear waveguides. In some embodiments, an in-shell egg pasteurization device with a non-linear slotted waveguide. In some embodiments the non-linear slotted waveguide comprises shaped waveguide applicators. The shaped waveguide applicators may employ oval, lens, or plum shaped non-linear slots to improve efficiency and efficacy of pasteurizing in-shell eggs, live oysters, tomatoes, or blueberries while maintianly the quality and functional attributes of the raw product.
Claims16
A food pasteurization device for a target food item, the device comprising:
- a pasteurization area comprising a microwave cavity into which microwaves are radiated, the microwave cavity having a top and a bottom;
- a microwave generator to provide microwaves to the pasteurization area from the top of the microwave cavity to the bottom of the microwave cavity;
- a microwave generator control configured to modify one or more variables of the microwave radiation emitted from the microwave generator, wherein the one or more variables includes a total power density;
- a non-linear slotted waveguide positioned at any angle in the pasteurization area in the microwave cavity;
- wherein the non-linear slotted waveguide comprises a shaped waveguide applicator to optimally distribute radiation according to a geometry of the target food item, wherein the shaped waveguide applicator is selected from the group consisting of:
- an oval shape having a center point, wherein the first side of the center point is defined by the equation
- 1
- =
- x
- 2
- 625
- +
- y
- 2
- 36
- and a second side of the center point is defined by the equation
- 1
- =
- x
- 2
- 961
- +
- y
- 2
- 36
- ,
- a lanceolate shape, wherein the lanceolate shape includes a first vertex and a second vertex, such that the shaped waveguide applicator is tapered toward each of the first vertex and the second vertex, and
- a plum shape defined by the equation
- R
-
- (
- θ
- )
- =
- 1
- +
- c
- 1
-
- sin
-
- (
- θ
- )
- +
- c
- 2
-
- sin
- 2
-
- (
- θ
- )
- [
- cos
-
- (
- θ
- )
- b
- ]
- 2
- +
- [
- sin
-
- (
- θ
- )
- a
- ]
- 2
- ,
- wherein R(θ) is the radial distance from the origin in polar coordinates, c1 is 0.24, c2 is 0.38, the semi-major axis α is 26, and semi-minor axis β is 18;
- and
- wherein the microwaves emitted to the pasteurization area pasteurize the target food item.
A method of pasteurizing a target food item, the method comprising:
- providing a food item pasteurization device for the target food item, the device comprising:
- a pasteurization area comprising a microwave cavity into which microwaves are radiated, the microwave cavity having a top and a bottom;
- a microwave generator to provide microwave energy to the pasteurization area in a single mode or a multi mode-cavity;
- a microwave generator control configured to modify one or more variables of the microwave radiation emitted from the microwave generator, wherein the one or more variables includes a total power density;
- a non-linear slotted waveguide positioned at any angle to the pasteurization area in the microwave cavity;
- wherein the non-linear slotted waveguide comprises a shaped waveguide applicators to optimally distribute radiation according to a geometry of the target food item;
- placing a load of the target food item within the pasteurization area;
- adjusting the total power density of the microwave radiation to 1.5 W/g of the load of the target food item within the pasteurization area;
- rotating the target food item within the pasteurization area at an angular velocity of π/6 rad/s;
- and
- distributing the microwave radiation to the target food item within the pasteurization area,
- wherein microwaves emitted to the pasteurization area pasteurize the target food item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.