Evaluation of a Novel Vacuum Microwave Drying (VMD) Technology for Ration Footprint Reduction

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1092296 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The US Army Natick Soldier, Research, Development, and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), now known as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, obtained FY17 RDECOM-sponsored Foreign Technology (and Science) Assessment Support (FTAS; TIP 2633) funds. This award funds a project to evaluate a Canadian-developed, novel Vacuum Microwave Drying (VMD) system that renders food shelf stable with near-fresh quality. VMD applies vacuum and microwave to rapidly and economically dry ration components at low temperatures to reduce the weight of rations and to retain quality, nutrition, and ensure safety. It will also be used to produce partially dry food components and subsequently compress the food components using conventional compression or ultrasonic agglomeration to further reduce weight and volume (at minimum of 50%) of individual and squad-size/group sized military ration components.

Author(s):
Yang, Tom
Author Organization(s):
US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center
Funding Organization(s):
Publication Date:
2020 Feb 26
Pagination:
0

Security Markings

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Communities of Interest:
Sensors
Descriptor(s):
vegetables, microwaves, moisture, food, engineering, drying, materials, weight, cost reductions, department of defense, freeze drying, information operations, pilot plants, product development, weight reduction, standards
Keyword(s):
vmd(VACUUM MICROWAVE DRYING), ccar(Close Combat Assault Ration), mre(Meal-ready-to-Eat), fsr(First Strike Ration), rcw(Ration Cold Weather), ugr-m(Unitized Group Ration- Marine), COMPRESSED FOODS, FOOD PROCESSING, FOOD COMPONENTS
Subject Categories:
Biological and Medical Sciences; Physics
Update Date:
2020 Jul 08