An Integrated Model of Heat Transfer in Meat Products during Multistage Operations

This work focuses on the modelling of the heat transfer in the key processes during the manufacturing of salted–smoked loin pork, a traditional Danish product called “Hamburgerryg”. Drying, smoking, steam-cooking, water-cooling, and air-cooling processes are important process steps in the production of “Hamburgerryg”. A mathematical model that describes the heat transfer during these processes was developed. A current model formulation, multiple unit operations, and the transfer between these unit operations were considered and described by an equation that combines boundary conditions. The model governing and boundary equations were solved using the finite element method (COMSOL Multi-physics(®) version 5.6). The product temperature profile during the processes was predicted as a function of position and time in the loin. The model was validated using measured temperature profiles from industrial production, and a good agreement between the measured and simulated temperature profiles was obtained. Additionally, the effects of the position (in the heating, cooking, and cooling chamber) on the temperature profile were also investigated. The obtained model can be used as a simulation tool to predict the temperature profile (particularly cold and hot spots) for entire processes and this can aid in the digitization of food processes by providing a more accurate and efficient means of temperature control.