Simulation of transient heat transfer during forced convection cooling of cocoyam (Colocasia Esculenta (L.) Schott) tubers

John Ndisya; Ayub Gitau; Franz Roman; Duncan Mbuge; Barbara Sturm; Oliver Hensel

Heliyon (Dec 2022)

Simulation of transient heat transfer during forced convection cooling of cocoyam (Colocasia Esculenta (L.) Schott) tubers

John Ndisya,
Ayub Gitau,
Franz Roman,
Duncan Mbuge,
Barbara Sturm,
Oliver Hensel

Affiliations

John Ndisya: Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhof str. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany; Department of Environmental & Biosystems Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Corresponding author.
Ayub Gitau: Department of Environmental & Biosystems Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Franz Roman: Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhof str. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
Duncan Mbuge: Department of Environmental & Biosystems Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Barbara Sturm: Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhof str. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max-Eyth Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany; Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Hinter der Reinhardtstr. 6–8, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Corresponding author.
Oliver Hensel: Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhof str. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 12
p. e12360

Abstract

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In this study, a prediction model based on transient heat transfer was modified and validated using experimental data. The time required to cool tubers from field temperature of 30 ± 2 °C to the target storage temperature of 12 ± 0.2 °C was predicted directly from the model. Moreover, total cooling time ranged from 127.8 – 154.2 min for small tubers and 190.8–262.2 min for large tubers while the field heat removed ranged from 9.61 – 10.17 kJ for small tubers and 24.78–31.90 kJ for large tubers between the extremes of the air velocity. Tuber orientation to airflow neither influenced the heat transfer coefficients and Biot numbers nor the cooling time and amount of field heat removed. The results from this study could be applied in the design and optimisation of forced convection cooling systems to precool tubers immediately after harvest and for extended duration storage.

Published in Heliyon

ISSN: 2405-8440 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General); Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/home

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