Abstract

Perishable products, such as food items or biological samples, often require specific temperature control to prolong their shelf life or maintain their integrity during storage and transportation. Supercooling, achieved by subjecting the products to pulsed electric fields, can effectively reduce their temperature while preserving their quality. The present disclosure addresses the various drawbacks in the related art by providing a method and system for selectively applying pulsed electric fields to perishable products using a plurality of electrodes. The method includes supplying power to different combinations of electrodes positioned within a container housing the perishable products, obtaining measurement data for each combination, selecting the combination based on the obtained measurement data, and applying a pulsed electric field between the selected electrodes to cool the perishable products.

IPC Classes  ?

• F25D 21/04 - Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• F25D 11/04 - Self-contained movable devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. domestic refrigerators specially adapted for storing deep-frozen articles

Abstract

e.g.e.g., power amplitudes, waveforms, frequencies, and duty cycles) of the least one of magnetic fields, electric fields, or displacement current to drive the electronics that create these energies. Different perishable items may require different combinations of these parameters to achieve optimal supercooling effects. Different combinations of the parameters may be applied to different perishable items so that different type of perishable items can be supercooled concurrently or simultaneously. Further, the different combinations of the parameters may be applied at any time relative to one another.

IPC Classes  ?

• A23B 4/06 - FreezingSubsequent thawingCooling
• A23L 3/36 - Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• A23L 5/30 - Physical treatment, e.g. electrical or magnetic means, wave energy or irradiation
• F25D 23/12 - Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartmentsCombinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• A23B 4/015 - Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect
• A23L 3/26 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by irradiation without heating
• C12H 1/16 - Pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification, or ageing of alcoholic beverages without precipitation by physical means, e.g. irradiation
• A01N 1/02 - Preservation of living parts
• F25D 11/04 - Self-contained movable devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. domestic refrigerators specially adapted for storing deep-frozen articles

Abstract

A method and apparatus as disclosed in the present disclosure may provide supercooling functionality for a wide range of perishable items. Supercooling may be accomplished by using at least one of magnetic fields, electric fields, displacement current, or a combination thereof. Supercooling of the perishable items may be accomplished by selecting specific parameters (e.g., power amplitudes, waveforms, frequencies, and duty cycles) of the least one of magnetic fields, electric fields, or displacement current to drive the electronics that create these energies. Different perishable items may require different combinations of these parameters to achieve optimal supercooling effects. Different combinations of the parameters may be applied to different perishable items so that different type of perishable items can be supercooled concurrently or simultaneously. Further, the different combinations of the parameters may be applied at any time relative to one another.

IPC Classes  ?

• A23L 3/32 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with electric currents without heating effect
• A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
• A23L 3/36 - Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling

Goods & Services

Refrigeration equipment, namely, units for storing perishable goods; transport refrigeration units for trucks, trailers, aircraft, boats, and shipping containers: refrigerator shelving, drawers, bins and trays; refrigerators, cooling apparatus, and freezers for medical storage purposes; commercial refrigerators and freezers and replacement parts and fittings therefor; refrigerators and freezers for household use and replacement parts and fittings therefor. Custom manufacturing of refrigerators and freezers for commercial use.