Determination of electric field intensity during microwave heating of selected vegetables and fruits

Abstract

In microwave heating process, electric field intensity is the main parameter that controls the temperature rise in the material. With this parameter and available material properties, temperature changes are predictable. In this study, a new setup based on a domestic microwave oven was developed and uniform microwave radiation at 2450 MHz was lunched normal to the base of pre-prepared cylindrical samples. Different vegetable and fruit samples including apple, banana, carrot and potato were exposed to microwave radiation and their surface temperature changes were measured. Surface electric field intensity was determined by means of temperature rise, time and sample’s properties. Then, outside electric field intensity was obtained from the relation with surface value using a newly developed relation and compared with previous works. The calculated values were very close and reliable compared with previous methods.

Keywords:

• Electric field intensity
• microwave heating
• vegetable
• fruit

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Omid Mirzabeigi Kesbi

Omid Mirzabeigi Kesbi is a PhD program candidate in Agricultural Machinery Engineering (Postharvest Technologies) at University of Tehran, Iran. He received his MSc. degree in Agricultural Machinery Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology, Iran (2010) and the BSc. in Agricultural Machinery Engineering from the University of Tabriz, Iran (2007). His research interests include; Agricultural Postharvest Technologies, Food Engineering, Microwave-assisted Processing.

Ali Rajabipour

Ali Rajabipour is a Professor in Biomechanics at Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran. He received his PhD degree in Biosystem Engineering from McGill University, Canada (1995), MSc. in Agricultural Machinery Engineering (Power and Machinery) from Tehran University, Iran (1990) and the BSc. in Agricultural Engineering from Shiraz University, Iran (1984). His research interests include; Mechanical Properties of Biomaterials (Agricultural, Food and Animal Materials), Postharvest Technology & Engineering (Machine Vision, Inspection Machines) and Computer Application in Study of Biomaterials.

Mahmoud Omid

Mahmoud Omid is a professor in University of Tehran, Iran. He received his BEng degree in Electronics from Newcastle University, UK, in 1989, and his MSc and PhD degrees in Telecommunications from University of Electro-Communications, Japan, in 1994 and 1997, respectively. His special field of interest include artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, machine vision, control and automation. He has authored and co-authored more than 300 articles in international journals and conferences. His current research interests include computational intelligence and machine vision in the areas of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering.

Seyed Hossein Goldansaz

Seyed Hossein Goldansaz is an Associate Professor in Agricultural Entomology. He received his PhD degree in Biology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (2002), MSc. in Agricultural Entomology from Tarbiat Modarres University, Iran (1991) and the BSc. in Plant Protection from University of Tehran, Iran (1988). His research interests include; Pomegranate pest management, Insect behavior, and Biological control of the pest. His research work focuses on Carob moth management in pomegranate orchards in Iran.