New paper published! Optimizing Harvesting Efficiency: Development and Assessment of a Pneumatic Air Jet Excitation Nozzle for Delicate Biostructures in Food Processing

New paper published by Eduardo Duque Dussán and Jan Banout from BRT.

This study introduces a novel pneumatic air jet excitation nozzle, meticulously designed for food processing applications. The device employs compressed air equipment and a precision solenoid valve to regulate air discharge through a parametric air jet nozzle. Extensive testing showed that the device could achieve shooting frequencies in the 40–45 Hz range, operating at pressures between 5 and 7 bar. A sophisticated sensor system was utilized to measure the force generated by the device across various frequencies and pressures.

The research employed the Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology to identify optimal cavity designs for 5 and 6 bar pressures. These designs surpassed others in generating uniform force and maintaining consistent vibration voltage behavior. This highlights the effectiveness of our approach in optimizing device performance under diverse conditions. The device’s practical application in food processing was demonstrated, especially in delicate tasks such as the selective harvesting of sensitive crops like coffee fruits. The precise vibrations generated by the device have the potential to enhance harvesting efficiency while significantly reducing mechanical damage to plants. Furthermore, the device's versatility supports the selective harvesting of various crops, making it adaptable to different agricultural needs.

This innovative device represents a significant proof of concept, offering an alternative method for exciting biostructures in food processing. By providing a non-intrusive and practical approach to manipulating and interacting with delicate, contactless structures, it opens up new possibilities in agricultural and biological fields. The focus is on improving food processing efficiency and quality, making the device a promising tool for the industry.

Keywords: precision nozzle design; pneumatic air jet excitation; shooting frequencies; contactless vibrations generation; food processing; harvesting efficiency; selective crop harvesting

Citation

Cardona, C.I.; Tinoco, H.A.; Perdomo-Hurtado, L.; Duque-Dussán, E.; Banout, J. Optimizing Harvesting Efficiency: Development and Assessment of a Pneumatic Air Jet Excitation Nozzle for Delicate Biostructures in Food Processing. Foods 2024, 13, 1458, doi:10.3390/foods13101458.