Predictive modelling of heat and mass transfer in hamburger patties

This study concerns fundamental analysis and predictive modelling of heat and mass transfer in frozen hamburger patties cooked in a double-sided contact fryer. Mathematical and physical models are formulated and further developed to enable improved understanding of the transport processes and reveal the influence of essential parameters. Prediction and analysis of practical situations with heating are investigated. The coupled governing partial differential equations are solved by a finite difference technique. In particular, the boundary conditions are treated carefully. The mathematical and physical models, the governing equations and the boundary conditions are presented in detail and special care is taken in the frozen region. The numerical method is briefly described. Results from a few simulations are reported. Parametric studies were carried out by changing the contact heat transfer coefficient, effective thermal conductivity for the core, effective specific heat in the core, the initial freezing temperature, diffusion coefficient and the mass fraction of ice. The calculated cooking time was found to be most influenced by the effective thermal conductivity and effective specific heat. in the core and the heat transfer coefficient, in descending order of importanc