Generation of intense pulsed electric fields in a large volume of water verified using Kerr effect diagnostics

A pulsed power system for generating intense pulsed electric fields (PEFs) in a very large volume of water was designed, manufactured, and tested as a first step toward the proof-of-principle demonstration of a novel noninvasive prepacked food processing operation. The MV-class system described in this article is based on the Tesla transformer technology and is capable of producing PEFs of 100 kV/cm in water, in a volume approaching 1 L. The electric field distribution in the processing water tank was obtained using an electrostatic solver, benchmarked using a Kerr effect arrangement. This article presents the most important experimental data, followed by a detailed electric field analysis and suggestions for the way ahead.