# Power Converter Design for Pulsed Electric Field-Based Milk Processing: A Proof of Concept

## TL;DR

This paper presents a proof of concept for a power converter designed to use pulsed electric fields for low-temperature milk pasteurization, aiming to preserve sensory qualities.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in modifying a Vienna rectifier with an MBC structure to generate high-voltage pulses suitable for milk processing.

## Key findings

- A converter design was simulated to generate PEF suitable for milk processing impedance.
- The control law ensures stable high-voltage pulsation while minimizing switch stress.
- The proposed system is feasible for real-world low-temperature pasteurization.

## Abstract

The microbiological safety of milk can be ensured through heat processing; however, this method has a negative effect on the sensory profile of this food product. Emerging technologies could be used as an alternative process for guaranteeing innocuity and maintaining sensory changes. An alternative is to evaluate pulsed electric field (PEF) electroporation, which is a method of processing cells using short pulses of a strong electric field. PEF has the potential to be a type of alternative low-temperature pasteurization process that consists of high-frequency voltage pulsations. Specifically, the presented work is a proof of concept for the design of a converter capable of generating a PEF to feed a load that meets the impedance characteristics of milk. The proposed converter is simulated using PLECS software (4.9.6 version) under impedance change scenarios that emulate variations in milk throughout the entire process. This research proposes the modification of a classic Vienna rectifier (adding an MBC—Multilevel Boost Converter structure) to supply a pulsating signal that could be used for low-temperature processes of milk to guarantee proper pasteurization. The characteristics of the generated high-voltage pulse make it feasible to quickly process the real sample. The control law design considers a regulation loop to achieve a voltage in the range of kV and a switching-type control law that activates switches in MMC arrays. These switches are activated randomly to avoid transients that cause significant stress on them.