Pulsed Electric Field Generators in food processing

High intensity pulsed electric field (PEF) processing involves the application of pulses of high voltage to foods placed between 2 electrodes. PEF treatment is conducted at ambient, sub-ambient, or slightly above ambient temperature, and energy loss due to heating of foods is minimized. For food quality attributes, PEF technology is considered superior to traditional heat treatment of foods because it avoids or greatly reduces the detrimental changes of the sensory and physical properties of foods. Some important aspects in pulsed electric field technology are the generation of high electric field intensities, the design of chambers that impart uniform treatment to foods with minimum increase in temperature, and the design of electrodes that minimize the effect of electrolysis. Pulse generator is a more important section of PEF system which is implemented in various manners. In this paper we present most commonly used techniques of signal generation required for PEF.