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Durawood | Zero-VOC | Minicrystal | Ultraveg | Water-Bee | Compo-Ball | Optimalt | Wheylayer
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| ULTRAVEG |
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| Development of a high power ultrasound system for the low-cost, fast, effective and quality drying of fruit and vegetables. |
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Dried food is a major element in modern food processing and a staple ingredient for an increasing variety of
foodstuffs. Dried food offers many advantages for the mass production of commercially prepared goods, not least
cheaper transportation costs, longer storage life and ease of use. However modern drying methods, such as
Accelerated Freeze-Drying, prove costly, time consuming, labour and energy intensive, limitations which can prove
more crippling for SMEs. There is a need to provide EU dried food SMEs with a technology which will help to remain
competitive in the EU and global dried food sectors.
Preliminary research conducted to date suggests that the application of high power ultrasound (HPU) for the
dehydration of porous materials may be very effective in processes in which heat-sensitive materials such as
foodstuff have to be treated. HPU is a powerful technology that is safe and environmentally friendly, efficient
and economical. High-intensity ultrasonic vibrations are capable of affecting mass transfer processes with the
result of increasing the drying rate of materials, thereby permitting the use of lower temperatures or shorter
treatment times.
This process thus shows promise for assisting the dehydration of fruits, vegetables and other foods, preserving the
quality attributes of the food products and during this project a HPU based pre-treatment method will be developed.
A prototype will be built and tested prior to conventional drying processes to improve the added value of the dried
product and enable faster, more cost effective and energy efficient drying of food, which will empower and equip
SMEs from the European dried food industry to compete against the growing threat of global competition and large
multinationals. It will also result in increased sales of high powered ultrasound components and equipment.
The project holds benefits for European competitiveness and innovation, employment, the environment and society at
large.
www.ultraveg.eu
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| Research Performers: |
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University of Berlin
TTZ Bremerhaven
Innovació i Recerca Industrial i Sostenible
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| Industrial Partners: |
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The ULTRAVEG project consortium includes 5 industrial companies made up of dried food manufacturers
from Germany and the United Kingdom, along with equipment and component manufacturers from Switzerland,
Germany and Turkey.
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