High voltage pulsed electric field treatment chambers for the preservation of liquid food products

摘要

A pulsed electric field treatment device for the sterilization and preservation of pumpable food products having a at least two electrodes and an insulator and particularly suited for the inactivation of vegetative and bacterial spore microorganisms. Each electrode includes an electrode flow chamber for making electrical contact with the pumpable food product and for allowing the pumpable food product to flow through the treatment device. The insulator is situated between the electrodes and includes an insulator flow chamber positioned between the electrode flow chambers and provides for the flow of pumpable food product from one electrode flow chamber to the other. A high voltage pulse generator applies a high voltage signal of variable voltage, frequency and pulse duration to the electrodes. The electrode and insulator flow chambers may employ a variety of sectional and cross-sectional geometries including tubular, cylindrical, rectangular, elliptical and non-uniform design.