Heat Conduction in Finite Cylinders and the Computer-Aided Calculation of Bacteria Survival in Heat Sterilization,
Abstract
The temperature distribution T(x,y,z,t) in a specimen during heating and cooling of its outer surface is determined by solving the heat diffusion equation for given boundary conditions. Solutions are often obtained for special forms, such as infinite cylinders or infinite slabs, of the specimen, and for some simplified boundary conditions such as abrupt initial temperature change at the surface of the sample. In practical problems, the solutions are often approximated by simple forms of the time temperature relations. For instance, in the case of retorting of food, the center temperature in the can is usually approximated by a zero order Bessel function valid for very large values of time. Such approximations, while valuable, are inadequate for exact studies. Usng modern computers, we were able to calculate T(x,y,z,t) very accurately for any practical size cylinder and for different boundary conditions corresponding to Nusselt numbers between 0 and 5000. The high accuracy and the rapid calculations make the method very useful in many fields of thermal engineering. In the present paper, this method is used in exact integral calculations of the survival fraction of bacteria during heat sterilization process. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA090448
Entities
People
- Ari Brynjolfsson
- Chia Ping Wang
Organizations
- United States Army Soldier Systems Center