Electroheating apparatus and methods
OwnerDavid Reznikinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electroheating apparatus and methods utilize a dielectric structure defining a conduit course of relatively small cross-sectional area and electrode surfaces of relatively large area so that the electrical current density in a region of the conduit remote from the electrodes is substantially higher than the current density at the electrode surfaces themselves. The system uses relatively high electrical resistance and relatively high voltages to provide substantial heating effect with low total currents. Foods such as liquid egg can be pasteurized.
Claims23
A method of heating a conductive fluid comprising the steps of:
- (a) passing the fluid through a continuous course defined by a dielectric structure and having first and second ends;
- while
- (b) passing an electrical current between a first electrode surface adjacent the first end of the course and a second electrode surface adjacent the second end of the course so that the electrical current density at a region of said course remote from said electrodes is substantially greater than the electrical current density near said electrode surfaces and so that the electrical current density near said electrode surfaces is substantially uniform to substantially prevent arcing.
A method of electroheating a biological fluid comprising the steps of passing the fluid between first and second electrodes, the electrodes comprising graphite, so that the fluid contacts the electrodes only at surfaces of the electrodes consisting essentially of pyrolytic carbon to reduce porosity, thereby resisting corrosion damage of the surfaces and minimizing electrolysis effects in the fluid, and heating said fluid by passing an electrical current between said electrodes through said carbon surfaces and said fluid, said heating being substantially remote from said electrode surfaces.
A method of electroheating a slurry including solid particles having conductivity which increases with increasing temperature in an electrically conductive liquid phase, the method comprising the steps of adjusting the temperatures of the liquid phase, the particles or both so as to bring the slurry to a thermal condition in which the particles are warmer than the slurry and then passing an electrical current through the slurry, whereby the electrical current will tend to heat the particles by concentrating the flow of electrical current through the particles, rather than through the liquid phase.
A method of electroheating particles having conductivity which increases with increasing temperature, the method comprising the step of adjusting the temperatures of the particles to a condition in which the interior of each particles is warmer than the exterior of such particles and then passing an electrical current through the particles, whereby the electrical current will tend to pass through the interiors of the particles to heat the interiors, rather than the exteriors, of the particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.