1

High Pulsed Power Generation for Microbial

Inactivation
Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
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Abstract— Increasing consumer demand for new Fig.1. Block diagram of PEF generator
products with high nutritional qualities leads to search for
new alternatives of food preservation. Pulsed Electric Field
(PEF) processing is an emerging technology for non-
thermal method of food preservation. Preservation of food
by the PEF method retains its fresh aroma, taste and
appearance. Modified half bridge series resonant converters
are proposed to generate pulsed waveforms, with high
operating frequency in discontinuous conduction mode and
with PWM control. Here, in this study, wide pulses are
stacked with narrow pulses to prevent undesired air
breakdown and to reduce power consumption. The electrical
equivalent of food sterilization process is simulated as load
to the power generator and the Trans Membrane Potential
(TMP) required for microbial cell breakdown, leading to in
activation of microbes in liquid food was evaluated for
different liquid foods under different operating condition of
the pulse generator.
II.BASIC ASPECTS OF SERIES RESONANT CONVERTER
Index Terms—Arc Discharge, Converter, Microbial
Inactivation, Pulsed Power, Stacked Pulse Generation.
Series resonant converter (SRC) has high efficiency
from full load to part load.[11]. Series resonant converters,
I. INTRODUCTION
operated above the resonant frequency, show many
advantages: inherent short circuit protection, zero-voltage

H igh Voltage Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) is a new

technology which uses short bursts of electricity to
inactivate microorganisms and denature enzymes with only a
small increase in temperature. Application of PEF processing
is restricted to food products with no air bubbles and with low
electrical conductivity. It will replace or complement
conventional thermal processing methods[2]-[10]. To sterilize
microbes, many researches have adopted PEFs, of which the
required Intensity, Pulse Width, and repeat rate depend on the
type and size of bacteria. High voltage output from modified
series-resonant converter is chopped into pulsed voltage
through a PEF switch network by which the converter can
recover the energy trapped in leakage inductor and can
increase the input-to-output voltage transfer gain which, in
turn, can reduce the turn ratio of the transformer [4]. The PEF
can be divided into two groups, wide pulse and narrow pulses.
Particularly to avoid continuous arcing in the processing
chamber or space, the PEFs are formed with wide pulses
stacked with narrow pulses for food sterilization which can
yield better sterilization performance and less power
consumption [4].The block diagram of proposed PEF
generator is shown in Fig.1.
commutations, limited harmonics in the resonant current,
maximum power transfer at minimum switching frequency,
transformer leakage inductance included in the resonant link,
etc.[7]. Their main limitation is that for reduced load current,
they lose the soft commutation advantage and the output
voltage cannot be controlled anymore. As the switching
frequencies increase, the switching losses associated with the
turn on and turn off of the devices in the power supplies also
increase. In resonant-mode power supplies, however, the
switching losses are low, which allows the operation of
resonant Converters at very high frequencies. The series
resonant circuit consists of a series capacitor C, and a series
inductor L, The function of capacitor C is twofold: 1) it
blocks dc component of output voltage VS, from passing to
the high-frequency transformer, and 2) it forms a resonant
circuit together with inductor L S [9]. The high frequency
transformer provides matching and isolation for the output
voltage of the converter.
III MECHANISM OF MICROBE STERILIZATION
(A). ELECTRICAL MODEL OF CELL

The cell structure is formed by two layers
namely cytoplasm and membrane. The cytoplasm
has a conductivity of 1 S/m with a dielectric
constant of 80.The cell membrane which separate
the interior of the cell from its surrounding, is
composed of a lipid bilayer which is
approximately has a thickness of 2µm,
conductivity of 10-5 S/m, and dielectric constant of
2.5[4].The equivalent circuit model of cell is
shown in Fig 2(a). The effects of cell caused by
high electric field are based on the charging of
membranes. Although cell modeling is complex
and extremely difficult, many known high
intensity effects can be explained by a simple cell
model, as shown in Fig. 2(b). In Fig. 2(b), RS and
CS represent the resistor and capacitor of the
suspension medium, respectively, and Cm ,RC1 ,RC2
and respectively represent capacitor of outer
membrane, resistor of outer membrane and
resistor of cytoplasm of a cell. Capacitor Cn and Rn
resistor are the capacitor and resistor of the
nucleus. Usually, capacitance of Cm is higher than
Cn.
Fig.2 (a). Equivalent circuit of a cell.
C m
R c 1
C s R s
R c 2
R c 1
C m
S
Fig.2 (b). Electrical Cmodel
u s p e n s io n e ll
of cell
(B). CELL MEMBRANE BREAKDOWN
In general, the electric pulses do not affect the
intracellular membranes, because the outer membrane shields
2
the interior from the influence of electric fields. However, if
the pulse duration becomes very short and consequently, the
cutoff frequency of its Fourier spectrum becomes very high,
the electric field can penetrate the outer membrane and affect
intracellular membrane. The illustration of electroporation
processing of a cell is shown in Fig. 3. The effectiveness of
microbial inactivation increases with an increase in electric
field intensity. This is consistent with the electroporation
principle in which the induced potential difference across cell
membrane is proportional to the intensity of the applied
electric field [12]. The death of cell is mainly due to the loss
of the membrane’s function as a semi permeable barrier
between the cell contents and the surrounding liquid medium.
It shows the cell or microorganism is non-viable, as it cannot
multiply and ensure the inactivation.
Fig.3. Illustration of electroporation processing of a cell
Pores may be formed in the membrane by the application
of an electric field of large enough magnitude across the
membrane. The pores formed in the membrane of the cells
may be transient or permanent in nature, depending on the
characteristics of the applied field.
The breakdown of cell membrane can be reversible or
irreversible, depending on the intensity and duration of the
applied electric field, electrolytic by products, ohmic heating.
Reversible breakdown, which is due to a change in the ion
permeability of the cell membrane, has wide applications in
science, medicine & biotechnology .For irreversible
breakdown of cell membrane leading to cell death occurs at
the induced transmembrane potential range of 0.7 to 1.2 V
which necessitates an external field of 20 to 80Kv/cm which
can be applied in the form of square pulse. The effect of
process parameter on these pulses was studied by simulating
actual treatment conditions for liquid food samples. Bipolar
pulses offer the advantages of minimum energy utilization,
reduced deposition of solids on the electrode surface, and
decreased food electrolysis. Using monopolar pulses, charged
C n particles inside the liquid food migrate to electrodes with
opposite polarity, which will cause an electric field
distortion[1]. Then an electric field with high enough intensity
R n
is applied to microbes and generates a voltage greater than 1V
across the cell membrane, it will induce irreversible pore
changes and kill microbes with a mechanism of rupturing cell
membrane.
C n
(C). PROCESS VARIABLES
The rate of inactivation of microorganisms suspended in
the liquid food by high intensity short duration high voltage
pulses mainly depends on various factors such as process
factors, product factors and microbial entity factors. In the
following section analysis of process and product parameters
are discussed briefly.
 3

In product factor, there exist many parameters of which

electrical conductivity of a medium (σ, siems/m) is an
i) Electric Field Intensity important parameter in PEF applications. The electrical
conductivity of a medium which is defined as the ability to
Electric field intensity can strongly influences microbial conduct electric current is an important variable in PEF. In
inactivation. The effectiveness of microbial inactivation this study various liquid food samples are used as substrate.
increases with an increase in electric field intensity, which can Table 1 shows electrical parameters for various mediums. An
be seen that the TMP and NMP increases with electric field increase in the difference between conductivity of the medium
intensity and with the pulse width for apple juice, which is and microbial cytoplasm weakens the membrane structure due
shown in fig .4. to an increased flow of ionic substance across the membrane
20V
which leads to cell death. Increase in conductivity mainly
0V
20 V

0 V
W IDE -N MP results from increase of the ionic strength; thus, an increase in
- 20V

40V
V( C32: 2,C 32:1 ) - 20 V
V (C 32 :2, C3 2: 1)
ionic strength of food would result in a decrease in
20V
40 V
W ID E PU LSE -T MP inactivation rate. Similarly, changes of PH levels from the
neutral will increase conductivity, which, in turn, will reduce
0V
V( C20: 2,R 63:2 ) S EL> >
5 .0V 0 V
V (C 20 :2, R6 3: 2)

inactivation rate [4].

0V
10 V
N AR RO W-N MP
-5.0V
0 V
V( C35: 2,C 35:1 )

- 10 V
10V
V (C 35 :2, C3 5: 1)

IV. GENERATION OF PEF

5V
20 V
SEL>>
0V
N AR ROW -T MP
10 V
0.80 0ms 1.2 00m s 1.600ms 2 .00 0ms 2.4 00m s 2.655ms
V( C21: 2,R 68:2 )
Time
0 V
0 .8 5ms 1. 20 ms 1 .6 0m s 2. 00 ms 2 .4 0m s 2. 80 ms 3 .2 0m s 3. 60 ms
V (C 21 :2, R6 8: 2)
T ime
(A). Unipolar PEF Generator
Fig.4 a) PW=5us ,TMP = 36V
b) PW=100us,TMP=42V To simplify the configuration of a unipolar PEF generator,
this paper uses an HBSRC operated in DCM as a high dc
Fig.5. Unipolar PEF generator
voltage generator. The overall PEF circuit is composed of a
ii) Treatment Time
1 0KV

Treatment time is defined as the product of the number 0V

of pulses and the pulse duration. An increase in any of these -1 0KV

variables will increase the effectiveness of microbial 4. 0KV

V(D17:2) + V(R13:2)

inactivation. Pulses with a longer width will decrease Ec, 0V

which results in higher inactivation rate by the increase in -4.0KV

TMP. However, an increase in pulse duration may also result 1 0KV

V(R13:2)

in an undesirable increase of the processed food temperature.. 0V

[4] SEL>>
-1 0KV
2 .0ms 2.2ms 2.4ms 2.6ms 2 .8ms 3.0ms 3.2ms 3.4ms
V(D17:2)
Time
iii) Pulse Wave Shape

To sterilize microbes, three kinds of waveforms are

usually adopted, that square wave pulses are more effective
than exponential and oscillatory decay pulse waveforms.
Additionally, bipolar PEFs will yield more efficient
inactivation of microorganisms than unipolar ones and can
avoid or reduce undesirable electrolysis of liquid foods.
Therefore, bipolar-square waveforms are considered as the
most efficient wave shape in microbial inactivation.

HBSRC and a PEF switch MS with high voltage rating, as

iv) Temperature showing in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5 , the HBSRC generates high dc
output voltage and switch MS is controlled to chop the dc link
In conventional pasteurization, it uses heating to destroy voltage to generate unipolar PEFs.[4].
cell membrane to achieve microbe inactivation. Therefore, in
the treatment chamber or space, an increase of temperature
can increase inactivation rate. However, it also deteriorates in (B). Bipolar PEF Generator
flavor and nutrition of food and increases ionic motion of food
or medium, causing electrolysis. To generate bipolar PEFs, two sets of HBSRCs are
integrated, as shown in Fig. 6. If operations of the two sets of
HBSRCs are synchronized, they can be combined into a
D) Product Factors single one. Additionally, to reduce voltage stress of switches,
a full-bridge chopper topology is adopted.
 4

10KV

5KV

0V
V(D17:2) + V(R13:2)
4.0KV

0V

SEL>>
-4.0KV
V(R13:2)
10KV

0V

-10KV
3.20000ms 3.20200ms 3.20400ms 3.20600ms 3.20800ms
V(D17:2)
Time

Fig.8. Expanded Waveforms

12.4KV

10.0KV

5.0KV

0V

-5.0KV

Fig.6. Bipolar PEF generator -10.0KV

3.14ms 3.50ms 4.00ms 4.50ms 5.00ms 5.50ms

V(R10:2,D25:2)
Time

To prevent continuous gas discharge and allow long rising
and falling time of the desired waveforms, narrow pulses are
stacked on wide pulses, which can sterilize microbes
effectively [4]. Block diagram to illustrate the proposed idea
is shown in Fig. 1.Owing to the pulse generator operated with
high switching frequency, diodes D1 , D2 , D3 and D4 should
be with ultra-fast recovery .The measured unipolar and
bipolar pulsed output voltage is shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9.
which is noted as the unipolar and bipolar pulse output
voltage is 11kV.
Fig.9. Bipolar pulse
Resistors are used as fuse in order to protect high voltage
rating diodes and switches. Resistors R1 ˜ R4 can avoid inrush
current of the secondary side of the transformers during
startup. Finally the PEF generator is connected with
equivalent model of cell with conductivity and resitivity for
various liquid food samples.

(C) Simulation of the cell model

The Trans Membrane Potential is the electrical potential

difference (voltage) across a cell’s plasma membrane. TMP of
the cell model is simulated for different liquid food samples.
The conductivity and relative permittivity is shown in Table1.
The total capacitance of the outer cell membrane is calculated
by using the formula,
2π oεε r
Cmeq =
ln b
a
Where ‘b’ & ‘a’ are the outer and inner radius of the cell
membrane.

Table.1. CONDUCTIVITY OF DIFFERENT SAMPLES

Fig.7. Unipolar pulse

Cm Rc1 Rc2 Cn Rn
(nF) (Ω) (kΩ) (nF) (Ω)
2.64 83.5M 22.736 1.246 79577
 5

Table 2. Electrical Parameters of Biological Cell juice

S.no Sample Conductivity Resistance Relative

(μS/cm) (Ω) permittivity(ε r)
V. CONCLUSION
1. Distilled 55 34.63 K 81
water
The effect of pulse wave shape on the viability of bacteria
2. Tap water 460 4.14 k 81 is important for the application of the PEF method. From the
simulation results it is concluded that
3. Well water 16000 119.04 81 • The peak voltage generated for both wide and narrow
pulse increases with varying inductance. Similarly
4. Sea water 56000 33.90 81 simulation is extended by replacing the resistive load
with the exact electrical equivalent model of the cell,
5. Orange 335000 5.85 84 which is suspended in the liquid foods.
juice • The induced Trans Membrane Potential exceeds the
6. Tomato 15800 1.25 90 threshold limit.
Juice • The ratio of NMP/TMP increases for narrow pulse
7. Apple juice 180000 8 72.5 compared to wide pulse, so, it will provide better
inactivation rate.

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Table.3 .TMP and NMP
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 6

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