Simultaneous Aerodynamic and Thermal Analysis during Cooling of Stacked Spheres inside Ventilated Packages

Abstract

Aerodynamic and thermal analysis during forced convection cooling of produce was conducted by modeling coupled airflow and heat transfer. Air velocities and heterogeneity indexes were predicted for different configurations of package openings at an airflow rate of 0.022 m 3 /s. Predicted temperature profiles were compared with experimental data for model validation. Good agreement between model prediction and measured data was obtained. The results showed that airflow distribution during the process was not homogeneous. More uniform airflow distribution was obtained by increasing the vent area from 2.4 to 12.1 %. The highest cooling heterogeneity index (108 %) was recorded at 2.4 % vent area whereas the lowest heterogeneity index (0 %) was detected in a package with 12.1 % vent area. Proper package vent design is necessary to provide more uniform cooling operation during the forced convection cooling process.

Mathematical Modeling Procedures for Airflow, Heat and Mass Transfer During Forced Convection Cooling of Produce: A Review

“…Dehghannya et al [32] studied forced-convection cooling of vented packages. The experimental setup of the system is shown in Fig.…”

“…The mean absolute error for the four positions was 2.2°C, considering all the three packages. The deviation could be considered satisfactory regarding various simulation and experimental parameters influencing the model performance such as variations in experimental inlet air velocity, air temperature, and ball's thermophysical properties as well as numerical oscillations [32].…”

“…For air domain, the governing equations in Cartesian coordinates for incompressible airflow are as follows [32,55]:…”

Mathematical modeling of airflow and heat transfer during forced convection cooling of produce considering various package vent areas

“…1(a)) was developed and validated using experimental data (Dehghannya, 2008;Dehghannya, Ngadi, & Vigneault, 2008). For the air domain, the governing equations in Cartesian coordinates were applied for incompressible airflow as follows:…”

“…However, none of these studies considered the effects of package vent configuration including different vent area and position on produce temperature distribution and cooling uniformity. Dehghannya, Ngadi, and Vigneault (2008) developed and experimentally validated a mathematical model of airflow and heat transfer for simultaneous aerodynamic and thermal analysis during forced-air precooling process inside ventilated packages. The study applied direct numerical simulation and analyzed velocity distributions and their resultant airflow heterogeneity indexes inside different ventilated packages; however, temperature distribution at different positions of the packages was not considered.…”