Justification of the Microwave Unit Parameters for Removing Fat from the Bones

Abstract

Introduction. The existing methods of removing fat from the bones of meat-producing animals are low-efficient and require high operating costs. To solve this problem, a unit with an ultra-high-frequency energy supply to the resonator is proposed. In this unit the crushed raw materials are subjected to thermomechanical action. Aim of the Study. The aim of the study is to increase the efficiency of removing fat from the bones of meat-producing animals while preserving the product feed value in a continuousflow process microwave unit with a coaxial resonator without a shielding housing by providing a high electric field strength and thermomechanical effect on the raw materials. Materials and Methods. Three-dimensional electromagnetic modeling of electromagnetic field distribution processes in a coaxial resonator was carried out in the CST Microwave Studio, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). Results. The ultrahigh frequency unit contains a non-ferromagnetic truncated cone, inside which an electrically driven whip rotor with a non-ferromagnetic shaft is coaxially located, forming a coaxial resonator with a conical annular space. Fluoroplastic hubs are fixed to the rotor shaft with a height shift, to which corundum bilas are attached in pairs on both sides. A shell of a truncated cone coated with an abrasive material is coaxially attached to the inner shell of a non-ferromagnetic truncated cone. The dynamics of heating at different specific capacities of the microwave generator is determined taking into account the initial parameters of the crushed bone and fat raw materials. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of studying the electrodynamic parameters of the resonator indicate that the electric field strength 2–5 kV/cm is sufficient to reduce bacterial contamination of the product. An effective mode for removing fat from bone raw materials is when the generator specific power is 0.71 kW/kg, duration of exposure to an ultrahigh frequency electromagnetic field is 6.55 min (when loading the resonator 9.3 kg), productivity is 85 kg/h, energy consumption of is 0.141 kWh/kg and heating temperature is 90–100 °С.