Software simulates high-pressure cooling of pork.High-pressure treatments can be used for preserving food, as well as for modifying the functional properties of foods. Computer simulations can help us understand the transient relationships that occur among food components as they are processed. In addition, software can help us develop various process models, which can be thoroughly tested under challenging conditions and used for process optimization Process optimization is the practice of making changes or adjustments to a process, to get results. Optimization is the use of specific techniques to determine the most cost effective and efficient solution to a problem or design for a process. as well as for experimental verification. Software can also be used for estimating thermo-physical properties which are difficult to measure directly through the use of instrumental techniques under high-pressure conditions. Canadian scientists developed a two-dimensional computer simulation of a cooling process involving pork under high-pressure processing conditions. The simulation was developed with the use of computational fluid dynamics Computational fluid dynamics The numerical approximation to the solution of mathematical models of fluid flow and heat transfer. Computational fluid dynamics is one of the tools (in addition to experimental and theoretical methods) available to solve software. The entire simulation was divided into stages describing three cooling periods: an initial loading stage, a pressure build-up build·up also build-up n. 1. The act or process of amassing or increasing: a military buildup; a buildup of tension during the strike. 2. stage (compression) and a pressure hold stage (constant pressure). The model included the high-pressure chamber, the medium fluid, the package material and the product being processed. Researchers evaluated the modeling performance of temperature predictions using two statistical values: a correlation coefficient Correlation Coefficient A measure that determines the degree to which two variable's movements are associated. The correlation coefficient is calculated as: and an average relative error based on the comparisons of predicted and experimental temperatures found at different locations in the radial radial /ra·di·al/ (ra´de-al) 1. pertaining to the radius of the arm or to the radial (lateral) aspect of the arm as opposed to the ulnar (medial) aspect; pertaining to a radius. 2. direction during different high-pressure treatments. Results indicated that the computational fluid dynamics model well matched the experimental results, especially for the pressure treatments at 100 MPa and 150 MPa, which showed the highest correlation coefficient of 0.97 and the lowest relative error of 5%. This research showed that computational fluid dynamics modeling can be an effective tool for simulating the cooling process. It can be used for observing transient temperature distribution in both the food being processed and in the processing equipment. It also can become a tool for the design of associated equipment and product processing techniques. Further information. Songming Zhu, Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Agricultural chemistry is the science of the causes and effects of biochemical reactions related to plant and animal growth. , McGill University McGill University, at Montreal, Que., Canada; coeducational; chartered 1821, opened 1829. It was named for James McGill, who left a bequest to establish it. Its real development dates from 1855 when John W. Dawson became principal. , Macdonald Campus The Macdonald Campus of McGill University (Mac Campus) houses its Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, and the McGill School of Environment. , Room MS1-034, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Rd., Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; phone: 514-398-7583; fax: 514-398-7977; email: songming.zhu@mcgill.ca |
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