Diode clamped gate driver-based high voltage pulse generator for electroporation

Abstract

Pulsed electric field technology is an emerging nonthermal food processing method. PEF food processingrequires a high voltage pulse generator that produces high intensive pulses to be delivered to the food product. Innovationin semiconductor technology motivates researchers to modernize high voltage pulse generators to reduce the cost, size,and complexities in circuit operation and to increase the suitability for food processing since the last few decades. Thepresent study aims to explore a high voltage pulse generator for electroporation study. The implemented high voltagepulse generator develops ∼1.62 kV with adjustable pulse widths of 0.62 µs and 1.2 µs. The pulse frequency can beadjusted to 1, 10, 20, and 51 kHz by using a preprogrammed microcontroller. The implemented pulse generator issimple and compact at affordable cost. Experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility of the implemented highvoltage pulse generator to inactivate Escherichia coli microorganisms. Escherichia coli cells were exposed to the electricfield intensity produced by the implemented pulse generator and the observed results showed that there is a significantreduction of 5.9 log scale from the initial concentration