Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Applied Physics

Proceedings of the First International Meeting on Applied Physics (APHYS-2003)

Antonio Mendez-Vilas

• Editorial: Elsevier Science
• Año: 2005
• ISBN:
  9780080480565
• Categoría: Ciencias físicas
• Categoría: Física matemática y computacional

The 1st International Meeting on Applied Physics (APHYS-2003) succeeded in creating a new international forum for applied physics in Europe, with specific interest in the application of techniques, training, and culture of physics to research areas usually associated with other scientific and engineering disciplines.This book contains a selection of peer-reviewed papers presented at APHYS-2003, held in Badajoz (Spain), from 15th to 18th October 2003, which included the following Plenary Lectures: * Nanobiotechnology - Interactions of Cells with Nanofeatured Surfaces and with Nanoparticles* Radiation Protection of Nuclear Workers - Ethical Issues* Chaotic Data Encryption for Optical Communications

Precooling Time Estimation and Measurement Methods in Forced Air Precooling Systems

J.M. Cámara-Zapata[email protected]; M. Ferrández-Villena; D. Martínez y; S. Castillo Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela. Universidad Miguel Hernández Carretera de Beniel, km 3,8 S/N, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante

Abstract

In food precooling it is important to know the coefficients of heat transmission by convection to obtain cooling time estimation. In this study, the simulation of a fruit precooling system has been carried out using artificial rubber fruits with a spherical form. The coefficient of heat transfer by convection has been calculated by starting from adimensional relationships, applying Buckingham’s pi theorem and adapting the necessary parameters to the characteristics of the precooling process. The cooling time has been determined by measuring the temperature in the different positions of the simulator. Moreover, this parameter has been calculated starting from the coefficient of heat transmission by convection, solving the general equation of heat conduction. The results show that the cooling time obtained starting from the complete resolution of the above-mentioned equation is quite a good estimation. However, when simplified methods are used, the results are less satisfactory, due to the fact that we obtain cooling times that are lower than the ones determined in the simulator.

INTRODUCTION

The production of fresh fruits and vegetables is...