Monitoring of defrosting in food by ultrasound measurement techniques

Abstract:
Ultrasonic measurements are widely recommended for food processing systems. Multiple processes in the food industry starting from storing, freezing, thawing, and packaging involve time and human labor. To be able to automate the processes, it is required to monitor and control the food processing steps, e.g. the defrosting process. This paper discusses an ultrasonic sensor system and its various performance parameters based on contact material, frequency, and food type. For chicken soup, one of the sample food products, we could demonstrate a change of 60.7 % in the signal delay due to defrosting. The research aims to discuss various influential factors for ultrasonic measurement systems and comment on the suitability of a test setup designed for monitoring the defrosting of food.