THE FOOD INDUSTRY REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST ENERGY-INTENSIVE SECTORS IN THE U.S., LEADING TO HIGH OPERATIONAL COSTS AND SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES A BREAKTHROUGH SOLUTION: A NEW EVAPORATION TECHNOLOGY THAT USES GUIDED SOUND WAVES TO REDUCE ENERGY USE DURING FOOD PROCESSING. UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES, THIS METHOD EFFICIENTLY DELIVERS ENERGY ALONG HEATING SURFACES, ENABLING MORE EFFECTIVE WATER REMOVAL WITH LESS WASTE. THE PROJECT INCLUDES DESIGNING AND TESTING A SCALABLE PROTOTYPE, EVALUATING ITS PERFORMANCE WITH REAL FOOD PRODUCTS, AND ASSESSING ITS COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY. BY ADVANCING THIS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, WE AIM TO SUPPORT A MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT, CLIMATE-RESILIENT, AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOOD INDUSTRY.