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Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

DOI

10.3906/elk-1710-133

Abstract

Pulsed electric field technology is an emerging nonthermal food processing method. PEF food processing requires a high voltage pulse generator that produces high intensive pulses to be delivered to the food product. Innovation in semiconductor technology motivates researchers to modernize high voltage pulse generators to reduce the cost, size, and complexities in circuit operation and to increase the suitability for food processing since the last few decades. The present study aims to explore a high voltage pulse generator for electroporation study. The implemented high voltage pulse generator develops $\sim $1.62 kV with adjustable pulse widths of 0.62 $\mu $s and 1.2 $\mu $s. The pulse frequency can be adjusted to 1, 10, 20, and 51 kHz by using a preprogrammed microcontroller. The implemented pulse generator is simple and compact at affordable cost. Experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility of the implemented high voltage pulse generator to inactivate Escherichia coli microorganisms. Escherichia coli cells were exposed to the electric field intensity produced by the implemented pulse generator and the observed results showed that there is a significant reduction of 5.9 log scale from the initial concentration.

Keywords

Pulsed electric field, pulse repetitive frequency, power MOSFETs, electroporation, resonant inductor

First Page

2374

Last Page

2384

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