Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept
The microbiological safety of milk can be ensured through heat processing; however, this method has a negative effect on the sensory profile of this food product. Emerging technologies could be used as an alternative process for guaranteeing innocuity and maintaining sensory changes. An alternative...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2177 |
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| author | Julieta Domínguez-Soberanes Omar F. Ruiz-Martinez Fernando Davalos Hernandez |
| author_facet | Julieta Domínguez-Soberanes Omar F. Ruiz-Martinez Fernando Davalos Hernandez |
| author_sort | Julieta Domínguez-Soberanes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The microbiological safety of milk can be ensured through heat processing; however, this method has a negative effect on the sensory profile of this food product. Emerging technologies could be used as an alternative process for guaranteeing innocuity and maintaining sensory changes. An alternative is to evaluate pulsed electric field (PEF) electroporation, which is a method of processing cells using short pulses of a strong electric field. PEF has the potential to be a type of alternative low-temperature pasteurization process that consists of high-frequency voltage pulsations. Specifically, the presented work is a proof of concept for the design of a converter capable of generating a PEF to feed a load that meets the impedance characteristics of milk. The proposed converter is simulated using PLECS software (4.9.6 version) under impedance change scenarios that emulate variations in milk throughout the entire process. This research proposes the modification of a classic Vienna rectifier (adding an MBC—Multilevel Boost Converter structure) to supply a pulsating signal that could be used for low-temperature processes of milk to guarantee proper pasteurization. The characteristics of the generated high-voltage pulse make it feasible to quickly process the real sample. The control law design considers a regulation loop to achieve a voltage in the range of kV and a switching-type control law that activates switches in MMC arrays. These switches are activated randomly to avoid transients that cause significant stress on them. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-94413680f463471888907278a405bf64 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-94413680f463471888907278a405bf642025-08-20T03:49:55ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011413217710.3390/foods14132177Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of ConceptJulieta Domínguez-Soberanes0Omar F. Ruiz-Martinez1Fernando Davalos Hernandez2Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, 101, Villa Bonaterra, Aguascalientes 20296, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, 101, Villa Bonaterra, Aguascalientes 20296, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, 101, Villa Bonaterra, Aguascalientes 20296, MexicoThe microbiological safety of milk can be ensured through heat processing; however, this method has a negative effect on the sensory profile of this food product. Emerging technologies could be used as an alternative process for guaranteeing innocuity and maintaining sensory changes. An alternative is to evaluate pulsed electric field (PEF) electroporation, which is a method of processing cells using short pulses of a strong electric field. PEF has the potential to be a type of alternative low-temperature pasteurization process that consists of high-frequency voltage pulsations. Specifically, the presented work is a proof of concept for the design of a converter capable of generating a PEF to feed a load that meets the impedance characteristics of milk. The proposed converter is simulated using PLECS software (4.9.6 version) under impedance change scenarios that emulate variations in milk throughout the entire process. This research proposes the modification of a classic Vienna rectifier (adding an MBC—Multilevel Boost Converter structure) to supply a pulsating signal that could be used for low-temperature processes of milk to guarantee proper pasteurization. The characteristics of the generated high-voltage pulse make it feasible to quickly process the real sample. The control law design considers a regulation loop to achieve a voltage in the range of kV and a switching-type control law that activates switches in MMC arrays. These switches are activated randomly to avoid transients that cause significant stress on them.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2177pulsed electric fielddairy foodsnoveltyfood non-thermal processfood qualitypower electronic converter |
| spellingShingle | Julieta Domínguez-Soberanes Omar F. Ruiz-Martinez Fernando Davalos Hernandez Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept Foods pulsed electric field dairy foods novelty food non-thermal process food quality power electronic converter |
| title | Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept |
| title_full | Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept |
| title_fullStr | Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept |
| title_full_unstemmed | Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept |
| title_short | Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept |
| title_sort | power converter design for pulsed electric field based milk processing a proof of concept |
| topic | pulsed electric field dairy foods novelty food non-thermal process food quality power electronic converter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2177 |
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