A drying device includes: a dielectric heating unit configured to apply an alternating electrical field to a medium onto which a liquid containing a conductive material, water, and a solvent has been discharged, and perform dielectric heating of the liquid; and a conductive member disposed either to make contact with or to be close to the medium to which the alternating electrical field is being applied.

A drying device includes: a dielectric heating unit configured to apply an alternating electrical field to a medium onto which a liquid containing a conductive material, water, and a solvent has been discharged, and perform dielectric heating of the liquid; and a conductive member disposed either to make contact with or to be close to the medium to which the alternating electrical field is being applied.

A method for preparing a substantially pasteurized and/or sterilized food product; the method, which can be used to produce pasta sauces or soups, comprises: a cooking step, during which a base of the food product is obtained by thermally treating a first component at a temperature exceeding 30° C.; a mixing step, during which said base and a second, substantially solid component are mixed together so as to obtain a mixture; and an ohmic treatment step, during which said mixture is subjected to an ohmic treatment so as to obtain the substantially pasteurized and/or sterilized food product.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of bridge arms connected in parallel to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling switches of the bridge arms. The plurality of bridge arms include a respective bridge arm for each pair of electrodes and a common bridge arm, and each bridge arm includes a pair of switches and a node located between the switches. A first electrode of each pair of electrodes is connected to the node of the respective bridge arm, and a second electrode is connected to the node of the common bridge arm. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration.

Provided is a dielectric heating apparatus for heating a first ink and a second ink that adhere to a medium. The first ink contains carbon black, and the second ink does not contain carbon black. The dielectric heating apparatus includes: a first electrode unit as an electrode unit configured to heat the first ink and the second ink, the first electrode unit including a first electrode and a second electrode that face the medium; and a first voltage application unit configured to apply an AC voltage having a frequency of 300 MHz or more and 300 GHz or less to the first electrode and the second electrode.

The invention provides a heat treatment system (1000) comprising a heat treatment apparatus (1) and a product transport system (200), wherein the heat treatment apparatus (1) comprises (i) a duct (100) having a duct axis (110), wherein the duct (100) is configured for holding a liquid (2), and (ii) an RF heating zone (5) comprising a main electrode (410) and a first counter electrode (420) configured for functionally connecting to an RF generator (400) to generate during operation a first electric field (490) in the duct (100) between the main electrode (410) and the first counter electrode (420) parallel to the duct axis (110); the product transport system (200) comprises an electric field guiding element (440) comprising an electrically conductive material (401), wherein the electric field guiding element is configured to be electrically insulated from the electrodes (410, 420) during transport through the duct (100); and the product transport system (200) is configured to transport a product (60) and the electric field guiding element (440) through the duct (100).

The invention provides a heat treatment system (1000) comprising a heat treatment apparatus (1) and a product transport system (200), wherein the heat treatment apparatus (1) comprises (i) a duct (100) having a duct axis (110), wherein the duct (100) is configured for holding a liquid (2), and (ii) an RF heating zone (5) comprising a main electrode (410) and a first counter electrode (420) configured for functionally connecting to an RF generator (400) to generate during operation a first electric field (490) in the duct (100) between the main electrode (410) and the first counter electrode (420) parallel to the duct axis (110); the product transport system (200) comprises an electric field guiding element (440) comprising an electrically conductive material (401), wherein the electric field guiding element is configured to be electrically insulated from the electrodes (410, 420) during transport through the duct (100); and the product transport system (200) is configured to transport a product (60) and the electric field guiding element (440) through the duct (100).

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.