Numerical Analysis of an Ultrasonic Technology for Food Dehydration Intensification

R. R. Andres [1], E. Riera [1],
[1] Grupo de Sistemas y Tecnologías Ultrasónicas (GSTU), ITEFI, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Published in 2016

Food dehydration processes assisted by high-power ultrasound (HPU) have become an efficient technology with a great potential in its implementation. To produce the desired effects in the samples, it is necessary that the dehydration system, composed by a HPU transducer and an ultrasonic chamber, works in the most effective way. The COMSOL Multiphysics® software gives us the possibility to study the behavior of each of the constitutive parts and of the whole system, analyzing the piezoelectric behavior of the ceramics, the modal behavior of the vibrator and circular radiator, and the ultrasonic field generated inside the chamber. The study of the effects produced in a simulated food sample have also been done, defining the areas with a higher energy absorption inside the chamber.