Numerical Analysis of the Behavior of Shock Wave in Spheroid Vessel

Abstract

Food processing utilizing underwater shock wave softens the food by breaking cells, and prevents loss of nutrients since there is little influence of heat. Moreover, it is also possible to extract a nutrient easily and reduce processing time. A device to generate a high intensity shock wave is required in order to process various kinds of food. The purposes of this research are to investigate the best condition to generate high intensity shock waves and to understand the behavior of converged shock wave. The capacitor electric discharge circuit was used as an underwater shock wave generating device. The waveform of discharge voltage and current were measured in order to search for the best condition of underwater discharge. It was confirmed that the larger charge voltage of capacitors become, the larger optimum electrodes interval become. Propagation and convergence of underwater shock wave was observed by numerical analysis.