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Models for heat and moisture transport in a microwave oven. Andrew Hill & Prof. C.J. Budd University of Bath, UK Greg Hooper CCFRA, UK. Faraday CASE award. Microwave oven. Thermal image of surface of food after 5 minutes heating. Aims.
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Models for heat and moisture transport in a microwave oven Andrew Hill & Prof. C.J. Budd University of Bath, UK Greg Hooper CCFRA, UK Faraday CASE award
Aims • To increase understanding of the field, heat and moisture transport in a microwave oven. • To produce relatively simple mathematical models able to predict temperature and moisture changes in food during heating and implement these in an easy to use package. • To guide the development of products that heat evenly and give good microwave performance.
Maxwell and Lambert Law L Starchy food L: Domain length: 2-14cm d: Penetration depth: 8mm Pa: Power absorbed Solving Maxwell’s equations for electric field predicts that the power absorbed oscillates and decays. Lambert Law approximates this by
Higher Dimensional Model • Model includes end correction to approximate 3-D geometry from a basic 2-D solution • Probe 4 • Probe 3 • Probe 2 • Probe 1
2-D model with constant dielectric properties FOOD 2cm 10cm
We can measure • Point temperatures continuously during heating using fibre optic thermal probes. • Surface temperatures after heating using thermal imaging cameras. • Moisture loss by weight of samples before and after heating. • Average power absorbed by measuring temperature rise of a water load in the oven.
Model Summary • 2-D model and 3-D end corrections implemented using Lambert Law with constant dielectric properties assumed radiation field pattern at surface. • Mode stirrers average out field effects • Rotation requires variable field model • Inputs: dielectric properties, physical characteristics of food, power absorbed by load. • Outputs: Point temperatures, cross sectional temperature profile, moisture loss. • Experimental validation • Computation time: minutes on a PC
Conclusion • Through the use of analysis, modelling and efficient numerical methods the model can predict quickly the temperature and moisture content of food loads heated in a variety of microwave ovens • Mode stirred ovens produce a more even heating pattern than turntable ovens. • Work is continuing on improving the model to incorporate more complicated field patterns.