System and method for electronic pasteurization

Abstract

An electronic accelerator comprises an accelerator column operable to produce at least one electron beam aimed at at least one target, a modulation control system operable to control the modulation of the at least one electron beam, and a plurality of power assemblies, each power assembly operable to supply a stepped-up power to the next successive power assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic accelerator, comprising: 
 an accelerator column operable to produce at least one electron beam aimed at at least one target;    a modulation control system operable to control the modulation of the at least one electron beam; and    a plurality of power assemblies, each power assembly operable to supply a stepped-up power to the next successive power assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the modulation control system comprises a feedback loop  
     
     
         3 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the modulation control system comprises: 
 a detector system operable to detect a location of the at least one target; and    a logic control system operable to receive the detected location of the at least one target and turn on and aim the electron beam to irradiate only the at least one target, and to turn off when the at least one target has been irradiated.    
     
     
         4 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the modulation control system comprises: 
 a detector system operable to detect a size and location of the at least one target; and    a logic control system operable to receive the detected size and location of the at least one target and modulate the electron beam to sequentially scan the surfaces of the at least one target.    
     
     
         5 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the accelerator column comprises a plurality of electronic guns each operable to generate an electron beam that may be independently modulated of one another.  
     
     
         6 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an electron detector operable to detect when the at least one electron beam is missing the at least one target.  
     
     
         7 . A modular electronic accelerator, comprising: 
 an accelerator column operable to produce a plurality of electron beams operable to irradiate a plurality of targets;    a modulation control system operable to independently control the modulation of each of the plurality of the electron beams; and    a plurality of power assemblies, each power assembly operable to supply a stepped-up power to the next successive power assembly.    
     
     
         8 . The modulator electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the modulation control system comprises: 
 a detector system operable to detect a location of each of the plurality of targets; and    a logic control system operable to receive the detected location of each of the plurality of targets and turn on and aim the electron beams to irradiate the respective target, and to turn off the electron beam when the respective target has been irradiated.    
     
     
         9 . The modulator electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the modulation control system comprises: 
 a detector system operable to detect a size and location of each of the plurality of targets; and    a logic control system operable to receive the detected size and location of each of the plurality of targets and modulate the respective electron beam to sequentially scan the surfaces of the respective target.    
     
     
         10 . The modular electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the accelerator column comprises a plurality of electronic guns each operable to generate an electron beam that may be independently modulated of one another.  
     
     
         11 . The modular electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising an electron detector operable to detect when each of the plurality of electron beams is missing the respective target.  
     
     
         12 . An electronic accelerator, comprising: 
 an accelerator column operable to produce a plurality of electron beams aimed at a plurality of targets; and    a modulation control system operable to modulate the plurality of electron beams and control the scanning of the plurality of electron beams across surfaces of the respective targets.    
     
     
         13 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the modulation control system comprises: 
 a detector system operable to detect a location of each of the plurality of targets; and    a logic control system operable to receive the detected location of each of the plurality of targets and turn on and aim the electron beams to irradiate the respective target, and to turn off the electron beam when the respective target has been irradiated.    
     
     
         14 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the modulation control system comprises: 
 a detector system operable to detect a size and location of each of the plurality of targets; and    a logic control system operable to receive the detected size and location of each of the plurality of targets and modulate the respective electron beam to sequentially scan the surfaces of the respective target.    
     
     
         15 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the accelerator column comprises a plurality of electronic guns each operable to generate an electron beam that may be independently modulated of one another.  
     
     
         16 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising an electron detector operable to detect when the at least one electron beam is missing the at least one target.  
     
     
         17 . The electronic accelerator, as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of power assemblies, each power assembly operable to supply a stepped-up power to the next successive power assembly.