Numerical solution of coupled mass and energy balances during osmotic-microwave dehydration

J.R. ARBALLO; L.A. CAMPAÑONE; R.H. MASCHERONI

COMPUTATIONAL AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS

CAM

Año: 2012 vol. 31 p. 539 - 558

The mass and energy transfer during osmotic-microwave drying (OD-MWD) 10 process was studied theoretically by modeling and numerical simulation. With the aim toprocess was studied theoretically by modeling and numerical simulation. With the aim to 11 describe the transport phenomena that occurs during the combined dehydration process, thedescribe the transport phenomena that occurs during the combined dehydration process, the 12 mass and energy microscopic balances were solved. An osmotic-diffusional model was usedmass and energy microscopic balances were solved. An osmotic-diffusional model was used 13 for osmotic dehydration (OD). On the other hand, the microwave drying (MWD) was modeledfor osmotic dehydration (OD). On the other hand, the microwave drying (MWD) was modeled 14 solving the mass and heat balances, using properties as function of temperature, moisture andsolving the mass and heat balances, using properties as function of temperature, moisture and 15 soluble solids content. The obtained balances form highly coupled non-linear differentialsoluble solids content. The obtained balances form highly coupled non-linear differential 16 equations that were solved applying numerical methods. For osmotic dehydration, the massequations that were solved applying numerical methods. For osmotic dehydration, the mass 17 balances formed coupled ordinary differential equations that were solved using the Fourth18balances formed coupled ordinary differential equations that were solved using the Fourth18 order Runge Kutta method. In the case of microwave drying, the balances constituted partial 19 differential equations, which were solved through Crank-Nicolson implicit finite differencesdifferential equations, which were solved through Crank-Nicolson implicit finite differences 20 method. The numerical methods were coded in Matlab 7.2 (Mathworks, Natick, MA). Themethod. The numerical methods were coded in Matlab 7.2 (Mathworks, Natick, MA). The 21 developed mathematical model allows predict the temperature and moisture evolution throughdeveloped mathematical model allows predict the temperature and moisture evolution through 22 the combined dehydration process.the combined dehydration process.