A numerical model was developed to study the electromagnetic field and thermal phenomena during microwave heating food processing. Three-dimensional finite difference time domain and finite element integration is presented for the analysis of the electromagnetic field distribution and temperature distribution. Experimental measurements validated 3-D model of microwave food processing for the electromagnetic and thermal phenomena. The extensive numerical simulations were used to study effect of various processing parameters on the heating patterns in food package in a 915 MHz microwave applicator. Computed results are presented for the electric field distribution, power absorption and temperature profile for the food sterilization processing in Microwave-Circulated Water Combination (MCWC) heating system.

Volume Subject Area:
Computational Heat Transfer
Topics:
Food products, Microwaves, Computer simulation, Electromagnetic fields, Heating, Absorption, Electric fields, Finite element analysis, Microwave heating, Sterilization, Temperature distribution, Temperature profiles, Three-dimensional models, Water
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Copyright © 2005
 by ASME
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