Development of Microwave Devices with Toroidal Resonators for Treatment of Raw Materials

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

J. Environ. Treat. Tech.

ISSN: 2309-1185

Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com

Development of Microwave Devices with Toroidal

Resonators for Treatment of Raw Materials

Maryana V. Belova , Olga V. Mihajlova , Galina V. Novikova , Alexander I. Kotin ,

Dmitry A. Tarakanov , Sergey P. Zaitsev , Evgeny L. Belov

¹Chuvash State Agricultural Academy, 29 K. Marx Street, 428000 Cheboksary, Russia

Nizhny Novgorod State University of Engineering and Economics, 22 Oktyabrskaya Street, 606340 Knyaginino, Nizhny Novgorod

Oblast, Russia

Received: 13/09/2019

Accepted: 22/11/2019

Published: 20/12/2019

Abstract

Three ultra-high frequency devices with toroidal resonators were developed on the basis of the principle of construction of quasi-

stationary resonators. Two of these devices are designed for elimination of a number of pests feeding on raw material and for activation

of cells of potato tubers and onion sets. The first device with toroidal resonator is designed for preplant treatment of potato tubers by

the effect of electrophysical factors. A dielectric wire belt is placed inside the torus of circular cross section. In the central part of the

resonator, represented as a capacitor space, there are rotating disk and spreader. Microwave emitters are directed through the surface

of the torus, and gas-discharge lamps are directed into the capacitor space. A filling funnel is installed at the center of the resonator.

An induction heater is placed under the torus; the segment of the bottom of the torus surface serves as its secondary winding. The

second device is designed for preplant treatment of onion sets. It consists of a quasi-stationary toroidal resonator with a rectangular

cross section. Inside the annular space, there are a cylinder, an air duct and an annular gas-discharge lamp. In the capacitor part of the

resonator, a dispenser with dielectric scrapers is placed. On the base of the cylinder, there is a sector-shaped discharge opening

connected to the evanescent waveguide. The emitters from the magnetrons are directed to the capacitor part of the resonator. The third

device is designed to defrost cow colostrum. It contains vertical quasi-stationary toroidal resonator with a rectangular cross section of

torus and a capacitor part with a gap from the lower edge of the base of the inner cylinder smaller than the distance between the side

surfaces of the cylinders. The torus is formed between coaxially located cylinders of different heights and an annular non-ferromagnetic

surface at the top. The disk moves inside the cylinder of small diameter. The emitters are directed to the capacitor part. The average

perimeter of the annular space and the diameter of the disk should be equal to multiple half of the wavelength, and the slot should be

less than one-fourth of the wavelength.

Keywords: Toroidal resonators, Preplant treatment, Gas-discharge lamp, Potato tubers, Onion sets, Cow colostrum

the task remains unsolved. Therefore, the authors developed

Introduction

technologies that can be applied on small and medium

agricultural enterprises for preplant treatment of potato tubers

and onion sets by ultra-high frequency electromagnetic field

According to the Federal Scientific and Technical

Program, which implies the task of ensuring the substitution of

import products by increasing national production and rising

the efficiency of raw materials processing technology

(

UHFEMF) in order to increase productive values at reduce

operating costs. The importance of developing studies on the

effects of microwave heating in Russia is confirmed by the

adoption (on December 17, 2012) of the strategic research

program “Microwave Technology”, which determines the

development of industrial equipment for technological

heating.

(

approved at August 25, 2017, No. 996), it is an urgent task to

develop methods and technical means for preplant seed

treatment of vegetable crops and for defrosting cow colostrum.

The authors of the paper analyzed the results of the studies

of different scientists, which were aimed at improving the

technology of preplant treatment of potato tubers and onion

sets without chemical preparations. The analysis shows that

The aim of this work is to develop and substantiate the

Corresponding author: Galina V. Novikova, Chuvash State

Agricultural Academy, 29 K. Marx Street, 428000

Cheboksary, Russia. Email zapevl@mail.ru.

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Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

parameters of the devices with toroidal resonators, providing

the effect of UHFEMF on raw materials in a continuous mode

at high electric field strength. Objectives of the research: (1) to

study the existing technologies and technical means used for

preplant treatment of vegetable seeds and for defrosting of cow

colostrum; (2) to develop criteria for designing microwave

equipment for treatment of raw materials in farms. (3) to

develop design schemes for multi-generator microwave

devices with toroidal resonators that implement microwave

technologies for preplant treatment of potato tubers and onion

sets and for defrosting of cow colostrum.

The object of the research includes technological

processes that provide increased protection of potato tubers

and onion sets from pests and defrosting of cow colostrum, as

well as experimental samples of the devices with toroidal

resonators, implementing the complex effect of physical

factors on raw materials in a continuous mode.

conditions for the implementation of the technological process

of the effect of UHFEMF on raw materials (Table 1). For farm

enterprises, it is necessary to design radio-hermetic equipment

for continuous operation, which is possible with the use of

low-power air-cooled magnetrons.

Table 1: Conditions for the implementation of the technological

process of the effect of UHFEMF on raw materials

Conditions

Provided by

Perforations of resonator;

Slot resonators;

. Continuous operation

- Movement of resonators;

Use of dielectric wire belt;

Use of screw conveyor.

Use of:

2. Keeping the off-duty

factor of the process lower

than 0.5

- Many magnetrons;

- Auger resonator;

Resonator divided into zones

of heating and pause.

use of:

Material and Methods

By application of UHFEMF and appropriate selection of

3. Uniform heating of raw

materials

Rotating mechanisms;

Vibrators.

the parameters for the resonator chambers, where the

conversion of microwave energy into heat occurs, it is possible

to obtain a uniform heat release in the volume, if the movement

of raw materials within it is provided. The heating efficiency

is directly proportional to the square of the EF strength and the

loss factor of raw material at a frequency of 2450 MHz.

Therefore, the studies were carried out on the basis of the

analysis of the effect of electrophysical factors on agricultural

raw materials, the theory of the electromagnetic field of

ultrahigh frequency, induction heating, and darsonvalization.

The unloaded Q-factor of the resonators was estimated using

the software CST Studio Suite 2017 and its subroutines CST

Microwave Studio for three-dimensional computer simulation

of electric field; it was also calculated using the construction

parameters of the resonators as the ratio of capacitance to

surface area, taking into account the skin layer. A three-

dimensional simulation of the structural designs of the

microwave devices with toroidal resonators were conducted

using Compass-3D V17 software. The studied raw materials

were potato tubers of the “White Rose” variety (weighing 50-

use of:

Biconical resonator;

Toroidal resonator;

field

. High strength of electric

- Quasi-stationary resonator;

- Interference of waves in the

resonator;

Small volume.

Implementation of:

- Evanescent waveguides;

. Compliance with

Slots less than a quarter of the

wavelength in width;

Non-ferromagnetic flexible

grids;

electromagnetic safety

(radiation density should

not exceed 0.01 mW/cm )

Remote control.

reduced power of

- Drive of transporting units;

. Reduced energy costs for

the process

Fan for cooling magnetrons.

Use of resonators with high

. Increased efficiency of

unloaded Q-factor;

- Radio-hermetic design.

the device

“

5 g and of 53x30 mm in size), onion-seedlings of

Bessonovsky” variety (of 15-25 mm in size) and cow

colostrum.

Taking into account the elaborated conditions for the

implementation of the technological process of the effect of

UHFEMF on the raw materials, three devices with toroidal

resonators were developed. Two of them are designed for the

preplant treatment of vegetable seeds; the purpose of the third

one is defrosting cow colostrum. A feature of the toroidal

resonator is a pronounced spatial separation of the electric and

magnetic fields. The gap, where the electric field is uniform,

can be considered as a flat capacitor (1). The two developed

devices with different constructional designs of the toroidal

resonator provide a complex effect of UHFEMF and corona

discharge for preplant treatment of potato tubers and onion

sets. The third device also has a toroidal resonator; it is

designed for defrosting cow colostrum. The implementation of

a complex effect of electrophysical factors is possible in a

microwave device with a toroidal resonator containing

evanescent waveguides, ensuring compliance with

Figure 1: Potato tuber and onion set

Results

The authors analyzed the results of many years of research

on the development of microwave equipment and elaborated

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Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

electromagnetic safety when row material moves through the

resonator. A gas-discharge lamp connected to a source of

kilohertz frequency provides a corona discharge and radiation

of a bactericidal flux of ultraviolet rays.

circular plane, a loading funnel 14 is installed. Microwave

energy emitters 2 from magnetrons are located along the torus

with a shift of 120 degrees and directed through its surface.

There are the wire belt 4 and the scrapers 9 inside the torus;

they are moved by the driven pulley 8 and the drive gear

mounted on the shaft. An unloading dielectric limiter 11 is

rigidly fixed above the wire belt; the limiter directs the potato

tubers to the opening 10 with the evanescent waveguide.

Fluoropolymer scrapers 9 installed under the wire belt and

move with it; they are designed to remove waste from the torus

through the opening 15 and the evanescent waveguide. An

induction heater 3 is placed under the torus, and the torus

segment above it serves as the secondary winding of the

inductor (10).

Selective heating of seeds under the effect of UHFEMF is

caused by losses due to dipole polarization. The depth of

penetration of standing waves into potato tubers is 1.5-2 cm,

and the heating is usually heterogeneous. Therefore, uniform

heating is achieved due to the thermal conductivity of the raw

material and by its movement inside the resonator. Multi-

generator devices were developed, where the working

chambers provide a multiple impact of the UHFEMF on the

raw material during its movement. Moreover, the magnetrons

are evenly distributed over the volume of the resonator with a

shift of 120 degrees to prevent their knocking out by the

reflected waves.

Thus, the device contains three different sources of

electromagnetic radiation:

microwave generators (main units: magnetron, emitter);

.1 Device for preplant treatment of potato tubers by the

- induction heater (primary winding and torus segment);

- sources of kilohertz frequency (generator and gas-

discharge lamps) generating high-frequency alternating pulsed

current with high voltage, the value of which lies within the

range of 2-15 kV, the current frequency is 110 kHz.

effect of electrophysical factors

Nowadays, chemicals are used for preplant processing of

potatoes. Tubers are treated with agricultural preparations for

prevention of diseases, protection from pests and for

stimulation of growth. Among the preparations that are used

for disinfection the most popular ones are such products as

Maxim or Fitosporin-M combined with other fungicides and

growth stimulants. They protect the crop from diseases at all

stages of growth, but do not exclude occurring of side effects

in humans (2).

The positive effects of electrophysical methods of treating

food products are known (3-6). However, the known methods

of preplant treatment of potato tubers with low-frequency (8-

9 Hz) magnetic fields (7) (patents No. 2415536, No.

435349, No. 2483513 No. 2407264) are difficult for

implementation on farms. There are medical sources of

kilohertz frequency radiation, such as “Darsonval” and

“

Ultraton” (8). The research conducted by the authors of the

Figure 2: Device for preplant treatment of potato tubers by the effect

of electrophysical factors: 1 – toroidal resonator; 2 – microwave

energy emitters; 3 – induction heater; 4 – dielectric wire belt; 5 –

rotating disk; 6 – dielectric spreader of tubers; 7 – drive pulley of the

disk; 8 – driven pulley of the wire belt drive; 9 – dielectric scrapers for

removal of wastes; 10 – unloading opening for tubers; 11 –unloading

dielectric limiter; 12 – sources of kilohertz frequency; 13 – capacitor

space; 14 – loading funnel; 15 – opening for removal of wastes

paper shows that the effect of the effect of such sources could

be increased by placing electro-discharge lamps connected to

sources of a kilohertz frequency into UHFEMF (9).

The purpose of treating potato tubers before planting by

complex effects of electrophysical factors is elimination of a

number of pests and activation of potato tuber cells in order to

accelerate their germination and increase productive

characteristics with the exclusion of side effects on the

physicochemical composition of grown potatoes.

The device for preplant treatment of potato tubers (Fig. 2)

consists of a toroidal resonator 1 made in the form of a torus

of circular cross section. The average perimeter of the torus is

equal to multiple half of the wavelength. The middle part of

the resonator is made of two plane-parallel circular planes

forming a capacitor space 13. In this space, a disk 5 driven by

an electric motor is installed coaxially with the resonator. A

dielectric spreader of tubers 6 in the form of a streamlined

surface is rigidly mounted above the disk. Detachable gas-

discharge lamps powered by the sources of kilohertz frequency

The technological process of preplant treatment of potato

tubers is as follows. Load the potato tubers into the funnel 14.

Turn on the electric drive of the disk 5; the drive pulley will

rotate the driven pulley 8, which will move the wire belt 4.

Turn on the sources of kilohertz frequency 12 and the

induction heater 3; then turn on the microwave generators.

Their emitters 2 will excite UHFEMF within the toroidal

resonator. A traveling wave with a frequency of 2450 MHz is

excited (11) within the toroidal resonator. Under the influence

of the UHFEMF, the potato tubers are endogenously heated to

35 °C, which accelerates the enzymatic activity of the tubers.

In the capacitor space 13, the electric field intensity is quite

high (more than 2 kV/cm), which protects the tubers from

diseases and pests.

Gas-discharge lamps 12 are located at a distance of several

millimeters (3-5 mm) from potato tubers. In this case, small

12 are installed uniformly along the perimeter and directed

through the upper circular plane into the capacitor space.

Protective net surround the gas-discharge lamps preventing

them from being hit by tubers. In the center of the same

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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

electrical discharges arise between the lamps and tubers,

which accelerates biochemical reactions, saturates tubers with

oxygen, increases elasticity and permeability of tubers (8). The

electric discharge has a bactericidal and bacteriostatic action

(

delays multiplication of bacteria). Discharges produce ozone

with a disinfecting effect. Gas-discharge lamps provide the

conversion of high-voltage to the corona discharge of the

required strength. Complex physical and electrochemical

processes involving inert gases in the lamps enable obtaining

of several factors. Inert gas acquires the properties of an

electrical conductor, which is closed to the ground through a

layer of air between the lamp and potato tubers and through

the tubers and the disk 5. As a result, a corona discharge occurs

releasing ozone, heat and ultraviolet radiation in the capacitor

space 13. This whole complex of factors contributes to the

activation of cells of potato tubers, which provides increased

and accelerated germination.

Due to the fact that induction heaters are installed under

the segment of torus bottom, the electromagnetic coil (primary

winding) generates magnetic field, and the torus bottom

segment (which is at least 70% of the surface of the induction

hob in size and made of a ferromagnetic material) is heated by

eddy currents. The wire belt 4 with the use of mobile

fluoropolymer scrapers 9 separates pests from raw material;

when the pests reach the heated segment of the torus, they are

destroyed by thermal burn and removed through the opening

Figure 3: Dielectric characteristics of potatoes depending on

temperature at humidity of 78% and frequency of 2450 MHz

The authors also studied the dependence of dielectric

characteristics of potato tubers from moisture content (Fig. 4).

With an increase in the content of moisture in potato tubers

from 70 to 85%, the absorption coefficient increased from 10.8

to 20.4. On the basis of these data, it is possible to calculate

the power of dielectric losses at electric field strength of 1.5-2

kV/cm. The technical characteristics of the device for preplant

treatment of potato tubers by the complex effect of

electrophysical factors are given in Table 2.

15 and the evanescent waveguide.

The choice of modes for the effect of the factors depends

on the variety and maturity of potatoes. The use of the

developed device with different electrophysical factors

enables obtaining of environmentally friendly products that

meet all the requirements of the standards. This device is

recommended for preplant treatment of potato tubers no larger

than 6 cm in size. This is conditioned by the design providing

high strength of electric field in the capacitor space and the

depth of penetration of centimeter wave into the potato tubers,

as well as by the simplified design of the evanescent

waveguides that are placed in unloading openings. Uniform

heating of potato tubers and continuous operation of the device

is provided by the use of wire belt for transportation of the

tubers within the torus.

Figure 4: Dielectric characteristics of potato tubers depending on

humidity content at frequency of 2450 MHz

Table 2: Device specifications

Productivity, kg/h

250-300

Power of microwave generators, kW

Power of sources of kilohertz frequency, kW

Power of induction heater

3.6

0.225

1.0

To determine the value of dielectric loss, the dielectric

characteristics of potatoes were analyzed depending on the

temperature at humidity of 78% and frequency of 2450 MHz

at a heating temperature of 150 °C, kW

Power of motor-reduction drive МEO-6.3/12.5

moving the wire belt, 2.4/4.8 rpm

Power of device, kW

0.043

(

Fig. 3) (6).

Analysis of the data shows that in the temperature range of

0–40 °C, the value of the dielectric permittivity decreases by

% (Fig. 3). The absorption coefficient in this temperature

4.9

Specific energy costs, kW∙h/kg

0.015-0.2

3.2 Microwave device for preplant treatment of onion sets in

range increases; it is explained by the fact that, at a temperature

of 30 °C, the denaturation of proteins begins accompanied by

the release of moisture. The decrease in the loss factor at

temperatures above 60 °C is conditioned by evaporation of

moisture, as well as by thermal movement of polar molecules,

which prevents their dipole orientation in the electromagnetic

field.

continuous mode

It is known that treatment of onion sets before planting is

carried out in order to avoid bacterial infections, intensive

formation of inflorescences and low germination. Immediately

before planting, onions are heated at a temperature of 35–40

°C for 10–12 hours. Then, phytosporin is used to suppress

development of pathogenic soil microflora (12). There is a way

to heat onion sets in hot water (45–50 °C) for 10–12 minutes,

then it is held in cold water for another 10–12 minutes and then

treated with pesticides and nutrient solutions (13). At the same

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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

time, for uniform heating and cooling of onion sets on farms it

is necessary to have water heaters and additional mixing

mechanisms.

adjuster 12. The strength of electric field is regulated by

change of the distance between the bases of non-ferromagnetic

cylinders.

There is a method of preplant treatment of onion sets by a

high-frequency electromagnetic field (14). High-frequency

devices with fixed frequencies (27.12 MHz, 40.68 MHz) and

periodic action are used for the treatment. The working

chamber of these devices is a capacitor made of two parallel-

arranged plates. According to the data of long-term laboratory

and field studies on the application of high-frequency

electromagnetic fields for preplant treatment of onion sets, an

increase in sowing and productive indicators was observed, as

well as improvement of product quality.

The technological process of preplant treatment of onion

sets is as follows. Turn on the electric drives of the air duct and

dispenser with dielectric scrapers. Set a certain distance

between the bases of the cylinders, calibrated to the required

value of the electric field strength sufficient for disinfecting

onion sets or potato tubers. Turn on the kilohertz frequency

source providing the occurrence of a corona discharge between

the side surface of the inner cylinder and a gas-discharge lamp.

Due to the discharge, air ionization, ozone formation occur.

The lamp will be a source of ultraviolet rays of “C” region.

Then turn on the conveyor for loading the raw material into the

dielectric cylinder through the evanescent waveguide. Turn on

ultra-high frequency generators 4. Raw material getting into

the capacitor part of a quasi-stationary resonator is moved by

the dispenser with scrapers, heated to 35–40 °C by the effect

of UHFEMF and decontaminated due to the effects of ozone,

electric field of high strength (above 1.5 kV/cm) and

bactericidal action of ultraviolet rays. Strength of the electric

field is regulated by changing the distance between the bases

of non-ferromagnetic cylinders with the help of a threaded

height adjuster of the inner cylinder. After one turn of the shaft

of the electric drive of the spreader, the processed raw material

is poured out through the unloading opening and the

evanescent waveguide, which has a shape of triangular prism.

The air duct provides the removal of dust, husks, etc. The

technological process implies continuous mode of preplant

treatment of onion sets or potato tubers.

During the operation of the kilohertz frequency source,

raw material affected by pulsed currents of high voltage and

low power. The current passes through the gas-discharge lamp.

A corona discharge of different intensity appears between the

lamp and the side surface of the inner cylinder, depending on

the size of the gap between them (0.5–2 cm). This process is

accompanied by release of ozone, ionization of air, and

formation of ultraviolet rays (16). The amperage on the gas-

discharge lamp is not more than 0.2 mA, the voltage is 12-15

kV, the pulse frequency is 110 kHz. Released ozone and

ultraviolet rays of “C” region provide bactericidal effect.

Bacteria and microorganisms present in the treated seed

material are eliminated. The complex effect of various

electrophysical factors activates the cells of potato tubers and

onion sets, which increases the germination ratio and energy,

growth rate and yield. When designing a quasi-stationary

toroidal resonator for continuous operation, it is necessary to

strive to reduce the equivalent capacitance at a given resonant

frequency and to increase the equivalent inductance (toroidal

surface). Due to these factors, the loss of microwave energy in

a toroidal resonator can be reduced and its efficiency

increased. Low radiation losses due to the presence of

evanescent waveguides and losses in the walls of a quasi-

stationary toroidal resonator made of aluminum lead to the fact

that this resonator in the microwave range has a high value of

unloaded Q-factor.

The scientists of Stavropol State Agrarian University

received positive results of scientific research on the preplant

treatment of onion with a pulsed electric field aimed at

improvement of sowing qualities (15).

The microwave device (Fig. 5) for preplant treatment of

vegetable crops (onion sets and potato tubers) consists of a

vertically located quasi-stationary toroidal resonator 1 with a

rectangular cross section. Quasi-stationary toroidal resonator 1

is designed as coaxially located cylinders of non-

ferromagnetic material, forming an annular space. The lower

bases of the cylinders form a capacitor part 3 (the inner part)

of a quasi-stationary toroidal resonator, where the distance

between the walls is no less than a quarter of the wavelength,

but it is also smaller than the distance between the walls of the

torus of rectangular cross section.

It is known that the shape of the profile of a toroidal

resonator determines the structure of the excited

electromagnetic fields. The electric field is mainly

concentrated in the capacitor part (the inner part) of the

resonator, where the distance between the walls is small, i.e.

this part of the resonator has a capacitive character. The energy

of magnetic field is concentrated in the peripheral part of the

quasi-stationary toroidal resonator (in the torus) (1). The

annular space between the side walls of the cylinders is closed

on top by a flat surface, which has openings for the dielectric

air duct 11 and for evanescent waveguide of circular section

13 connected to the dielectric cylinder 2. Inside the annular

space, there are a dielectric cylinder 2, a dielectric air duct and

an annular gas-discharge lamp 9. The lamp is placed around

the inner cylinder (at the level of its base) with a gap between

them. The gas-discharge lamp 9 is connected to a source of

kilohertz frequency 10 located on the inside surface of the

inner cylinder. In the capacitor part 3, a dispenser 5 with

radially located scrapers is placed. It is mounted on the shaft 7

of the electric motor coaxially with the base of the outer

cylinder, where an unloading opening 6 in the form of a sector

was made. An evanescent waveguide in the form of a regular

triangular prism is docked to the unloading opening. The

emitters from magnetrons 4 located on the side surface of the

outer cylinder with a shift of 120 degrees are directed to the

capacitor part of the quasi-stationary toroidal resonator loaded

with raw material 8. The capacitance of the capacitor part of

the toroidal resonator is regulated by changing the vertical

position of the inner cylinder with the help of a threaded height

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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

Figure 5: Microwave device for preplant treatment of vegetable seeds in continuous mode: a) technological scheme; b) spatial image; 1 – quasi-stationary

toroidal resonator; 2 – dielectric cylinder for loading raw material; 3 – capacitor part of the quasi-stationary toroidal resonator; 4 – magnetrons with

emitters; 5 – dispenser with radially located dielectric scrapers; 6 – unloading opening with evanescent waveguide in the form of a regular triangular

prism; 7 – shaft of electric drive rotating dispenser with scrapers; 8 – raw material; 9 – annular gas-discharge lamp; 10 – source of kilohertz frequency;

1 – dielectric air duct; 12 – threaded height adjuster of the inner cylinder; 13 – evanescent waveguide of circular cross section

An experimental study of the dynamics of heating of onion

colostrum is not rational due to the low content of

sets in the UHFEMF at a specific power of 3.5 W/g was carried

out. The results of the study show that the increase of

temperature of the onion sets within the period of 40 s was 21

immunoglobulins.

Colostrum is taken in the first two days after calving and

stored frozen (16). It differs from milk both by composition

and by appearance: it is fatter, more viscous and thick; it has

yellow tinge, sallow taste and different odor. Colostrum may

vary by calorie, mineral and vitamin composition. It contains

(17):

°C. The expected productivity of the device is 250-300 kg/h.

Description of the device, which also contains a quasi-

stationary toroidal resonator but designed for defrosting of

viscous raw materials, namely cow colostrum, is given below.

Immunoglobulins;

.3 Microwave device for defrosting cow colostrum

A calf on the intake receives 4–7 liters of colostrum during

- Iron-bound protein that inhibits multiplication of

microorganisms and provides a powerful anti-viral effect;

- Substances that stimulate tissue growth, strengthen the

immune system, normalize the work of the gastrointestinal

tract, protect cells from the action of viruses;

the first days. The average daily milk yield for cows in the first

days after calving is 15–20 kg. Newborn calves can consume

30–50% of the total colostrum of cows. The remaining amount

of colostrum should be frozen. The use of subsequent yields of

- lysozymes – natural antibiotics, etc.

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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

a torus of rectangular cross section and a capacitor part. The

toroidal part is presented as coaxially arranged non-

ferromagnetic cylinders 2, 3 of different heights without upper

bases. The annular space between the cylinders is closed on

top by an annular surface 5 made of non-ferromagnetic

material. The upper base of the inner cylinder 2 is missing, and

its lower base is a movable non-ferromagnetic disk 4. The

height of the inner cylinder 2 is lower than the height of the

outer cylinder 3. The gap between the edge of the lower base

of the inner cylinder 2 and the lower perforated base of the

outer cylinder 3 is less than the distance between the side

surfaces of the cylinders 2, 3. Thus, the toroidal part of the

quasi-stationary resonator is formed between coaxially located

non-ferromagnetic cylinders 2, 3 of different heights and non-

ferromagnetic surface 5 above them. The capacitor part of the

resonator is represented by the gap between the movable non-

ferromagnetic base-disk 4 and the perforated lower base of the

outer cylinder 3.

Figure 6: Dynamics of heating of onion sets in UHFEMF with a

specific power of 3.5 W/g

Colostrum that is taken for freezing has a density of 1.06–

.045 g/cm . It is frozen in plastic bags of 1.0–1.5 liters and

stored for 3–4 months at a temperature of -20 °C. For a farm

with a livestock of 1000 heads of a dairy herd, it is sufficient

to have a freezer compartment with a volume of 250–300 liters

to maintain the temperature -18–23 °C. Colostrum is stored

under these conditions for up to 8 months, and it is defrosted

in batches at a temperature of 35–38 °C. The raw material is

defrosted before feeding, and this process takes long time. For

example, it takes 1.5-2 hours for a 1.5-liter bottle of colostrum

to defrost at room temperature.

Different methods and devices are used in order to defrost

colostrum for newborn calves, including the defrosting

machine PM-3, which enables defrosting of colostrum within

0 minutes. However, these methods apply uneven heating,

which leads to destruction of the structure of immunoglobulins

18, 22, 23). There is also defrosting machine Iglus-2 (19) and

Figure 7: Microwave device for defrosting cow colostrum: 1 –

magnetrons; 2 – internal non-ferromagnetic cylinder without bases; 3

(

–

non-ferromagnetic outer cylinder with a perforated lower base; 4 –

colostrum bath BM-40 (20, 21). This equipment works on the

principle of water bath, where a tubular electric heater heats

the water; bottles with raw material are placed inside a rotating

device within the water tank; such low productivity equipment

works in periodic mode with high consumption of hot water

and high energy costs.

movable non-ferromagnetic base-disk; 5 – upper base of the outer

cylinder, shaped as an annular surface; 6 – perforated round dielectric

tray with boards; 7 – shaft of the electric drive of the tray; 8 – drain

pipe; 9 – convex bottom of the device

The diameter of the movable non-ferromagnetic base-disk

4 is smaller than the diameter of the inner cylinder 2; therefore,

it can move freely inside the cylinder 2. The magnetrons 1 of

the microwave oscillators are located on the outer side of the

outer cylinder 3; the emitters are directed inside the capacitor

part of the resonator. There is a slot on the side surface of the

outer cylinder 3 in the capacitor part of the resonator; a

perforated round dielectric tray with boards 6 protrudes

through this slot. The tray 6 is located asymmetrically in

relation to the axis of the cylinder, parallel to the lower

perforated base of the outer cylinder 3, and it is rotated by

electric motor 7. Under the outer cylinder 3, there is a convex

bottom of the device 9 with a drain pipe 8. The average

perimeter of the annular space and the diameter of the base

disk 4 should be equal to a multiple half of the wavelength,

and the size of the slot should be less than a quarter of the

wavelength.

Therefore, the technical task is to develop a device for

uniform defrosting of cow colostrum at low operating costs by

applying UHFEMF to frozen raw material in a quasi-stationary

toroidal resonator with a capacitor part and rectangular cross

section. It should provide a smooth increase in strength of the

electric field due to a decrease in the interplate distance. The

device was developed taking into account the results of studies

of other authors in the field of application of electromagnetic

radiation energy for heat treatment of agricultural raw

materials (24, 25). It was also taken into account that the

existing methods require long time for defrosting cow

colostrum. Preliminary studies show that after the slow

defrosting of colostrum, its quality is noticeably lower than the

quality of fresh substance. With application of microwave

technology, it is possible to defrost colostrum in minutes,

depending on the volume of raw material. This enables to keep

quality of defrosted cow colostrum almost equal to fresh

product. It is known that the depth of penetration of UHFEMF

The technological process of defrosting cow colostrum is

as follows. Prepare cow colostrum frozen in cylindrical

silicone containers. Load the frozen raw material without

silicone container into the inner cylinder 2. Close it from above

with a non-ferromagnetic base-disk 4. Open the drain pipe 8.

Turn on the electric drive 7 of the dielectric perforated tray

(

2450 MHz) into frozen colostrum increases from 1.5 cm to 42

cm with an increase in temperature from -1 °C to -50 °C (4).

The device for defrosting cow colostrum (Fig. 7) consists

of a vertically located quasi-stationary toroidal resonator with

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Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1215-1223

with boards 6. Turn on microwave generators; their

magnetrons 1 would excite the UHFEMF in a quasi-stationary

resonator through waveguides and emitters. The quasi-

stationary resonator is characterized by the fact that the width

of the capacitor part is smaller than the wavelength and the

electric and magnetic fields are spatially separated. The

magnetic component prevails in the toroidal part and the

electric component of the electromagnetic field is concentrated

in the capacitor part. The presence of a capacitor (narrowed)

part in the quasi-stationary resonator provides a high strength

of electric field for the H10 wave, correlated to an increase in

capacitance (when the non-ferromagnetic disk 4 moves down

the internal cylinder).

This leads to an increase in the critical wavelength. The

working range of a resonator with a capacitor part can be

several times larger than the range of a cylindrical resonator of

the same size. The concentration of the electric field in the

condenser part of the resonator provides critical intensity of

the electric field, which makes it possible to stop the

development of bacterial microflora in thawed raw material.

Frozen raw material that reached the dielectric perforated tray

Conclusion

The developed devices contain various sources of

electromagnetic radiation:

Microwave generators providing endogenous heating of

potato tubers and protection from diseases and pests;

Induction heater for destruction of beetles and other pests by

thermal burn;

High-frequency (110 kHz) alternating pulsed current

generators with high voltage and electro-discharge lamps,

which accelerate biochemical reactions, saturate tubers

with oxygen, increase their elasticity and permeability.

This whole complex of energy sources contributes to

activation of cells of potato tubers and onion sets, accelerating

and increasing germination and productive indicators. With

the use of one device having capacity of 300 kg/h, it is possible

to carry out preplant treatment of up to 20 tons of potato tubers

(

no larger than 6 cm in size) with specific energy expenditures

of 0.2 kW∙h/kg. Application of a new method of preplant

treatment of potato tubers and onion sets enables one to

increase crop yields up to 15%, improve product quality,

increase hygienic product safety requirements, and reduce the

urgency of the environmental problem of using chemicals.

Therefore, it is recommended to use the developed installation

on farms.

with boards becomes partially defrosted by the effect of

UHFEMF. The liquid fraction percolates through the

perforations of tray 6. The tray is rotated by the electric motor

7, and the frozen pieces of raw material drop onto the

perforated base of the quasi-stationary resonator, where

complete defrosting occurs. Defrosted raw material in the form

of a viscous fluid flow through the perforations into the convex

bottom of the device 9. Large frozen pieces are not carried out

through the slot in the lateral surface of the outer cylinder 3,

but due to the impact, they crumble and fall on its perforated

base. As the raw material thaws, the non-ferromagnetic base-

disk 4 moves down along the guides (internal grooves in the

inner cylinder 2). This provides a smooth increase in strength

of the electric field in the capacitor part of the resonator due to

a decrease of interplate distance. The base-disk 4 together with

pieces of frozen raw material fall on the dielectric tray 6, where

it is taken out from the outer cylinder by the centrifugal force

and removed. When the frozen raw material moving through

the inner cylinder 2 reaches about half of its height, a new

portion of the frozen raw material without silicone containers

should be loaded, and a new disk-base should be installed on

the guide grooves. This process is repeated until the entire

volume of the required raw material is defrosted. The disk-

base 4 limits the radiation of microwave energy in the process

of loading new portions of raw material. Therefore, the process

of loading new portion of raw material with the corresponding

base-disc should be started before the previous base-disc falls

onto the dielectric tray 6. Electromagnetic safety is ensured, as

the waves are closed to the frozen raw material. The number

of disks depends on the number of portions of raw material.

After the defrosting of raw material, the device is sanitized,

including disc-bases and silicone containers for cow

colostrum. The temperature of the thawed raw material for

feeding calves should not be lower than 35–38 °C.

Consequently, the effect of UHFRMF should provide a

temperature increase from -20 °C to +35 °C.

Ethical issue

Authors are aware of, and comply with, best practice in

publication ethics specifically with regard to authorship

(

avoidance of guest authorship), dual submission,

manipulation of figures, competing interests and compliance

with policies on research ethics. Authors adhere to publication

requirements that submitted work is original and has not been

published elsewhere in any language.

Competing interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that

would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.

Authors’ contribution

All authors of this study have a complete contribution for

data collection, data analyses and manuscript writing.

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