Radio-Frequency Heating in Food Processing : Principles and Applications

This book covers the fundamental science and engineering principles governing radio-frequency (RF) applications and provides a solid understanding of industrial RF unit design options, challenges, and opportunities for development. It explains the similarities, differences, advantages, and limitations of RF and microwave heating; discusses dielectric and thermo-physical properties; provides practical perspectives on industrial RF units used in manufacturing food products; examines RF-heating effects on microorganisms, enzymes, and food quality attributes; and explores RF-heating applications beyond food processing, such as waste treatment and counterfeit prevention.

Radio-Frequency Heating in Food Processing: Principles and Applications covers the fundamentals of radio-frequency (RF) heating and the use of RF-heating technologies in modern food processing, preservation, and related industries. Focusing on industrial and lab-scale applications where RF heating has been employed successfully or reported to have potential benefits over conventional heating options, this state-of-the-art reference:

• Explains the similarities, differences, advantages, and limitations of RF and microwave heating as applied to agricultural products
• Describes fiber-optics temperature sensors and their utility in monitoring temperature during RF and microwave heating
• Discusses the dielectric and thermo-physical properties of agricultural products amenable to RF and microwave heating, presenting measurement techniques, mathematical concepts, and computer simulation models
• Provides practical perspectives on industrial RF units used in manufacturing food products, addressing free-running oscillators and 50-O designs for RF heaters and applicators
• Uses finite-element formulations to determine design parameters including resonant modes, circuit impedance, and electric field distribution in RF applicators
• Examines RF-heating effects on microorganisms, enzymes, and food quality attributes for products such as poultry, beef, pork, eggs, fish, milk, fruits, vegetables, and seafood
• Explores RF-heating applications beyond food processing, such as agricultural product deinfestation, waste treatment, counterfeit prevention, package tracking, and transportation of food from farm to table

Radio-Frequency Heating in Food Processing: Principles and Applications supplies an in-depth overview of the fundamental science and engineering principles governing RF applications, as well as a solid understanding of industrial RF unit design options, challenges, and opportunities for development.