Development and performance evaluation of laboratory scale ohmic heating system

Different novel technologies for thermal food processing have been developed with high potential and today there are high demands for emerging technologies which requires minimum processing. Ohmic heating is the volumetric method of heating in which alternating electric current is passed through liquid- particulates foods for heating purpose. The objective of the study was to design and develop a laboratory scale ohmic heating system and evaluating the performance in terms of heating power, heating rate and energy efficiency. The developed laboratory scale ohmic heating setup showed an excellent performance. The setup was able to convert maximum up to 65.60 per cent of energy effectively. In this setup, the liquid particulate food could be heated from 19°C to 50°C in a minute at applied voltage of 100 V. The heating was volumetrically uniform for all the practical purposes. This technology has a good potential for the production of new, high valued, shelf stable products with excellent quality retention.