A steady-state food process design and analysis program with generalized unit operation models

Heidi Ann Diefes, Purdue University

Abstract

There is a great need in the food industry to link food science research with food engineering and process technologies in such a way as to facilitate an increase in product development efficiency and improve product quality. Chemical engineers achieve this through the use of industry standard computer aided flowsheeting and design packages. In contrast, existing programs for food processing applications are limited in their ability to handle the wide variety of processes common to the food industry. This research entails the development of a generalized flowsheeting and design program for steady-state food processes which utilizes the design strategies employed by food engineers. The MATLAB$\sp\circler$ computational software package and its SIMULINK$\sp{\rm TM}$ dynamic system simulation software have been used to develop computational algorithms and a graphical user interface for Food Operations Oriented Design System Block Library (FOODS-LIB). This multi-level continuous food process design tool can be used to perform mass and energy balances as well as basic and advanced transport design. FOODS-LIB can also assess microbial load reduction and quality degradation due to thermal treatement. In addition, the companion program ECONANAL can perform an economic analysis on a process designed using FOODS-LIB. To demonstrate the utility of FOODS-LIB, alternative whole milk powder process designs were analyzed. The use of FOODS-LIB as a Food Process Engineering course and curriculum supplement is discussed. Implementation of FOODS-LIB at the senior and sophomore levels is reviewed.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Okos, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Agricultural engineering|Food science

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