COOLING AND FREEZING CALCULATIONS USING SIMPLIFIED METHODS

Q.T. Pham, School of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry, University of New South Wales
REFERENCES
Cooling of slab, infinite cylinder and sphere
Cooling of other shapes
Freezing of slab, infinite cylinder and sphere
Freezing/thawing of rods and bricks
Freezing/thawing of ellipses and ellipsoids
Freezing/thawing of ellipses and ellipsoids
Thawing of slab, infinite cylinder and sphere
SEE ALSO
COOLING AND FREEZING CALCULATIONS USING SIMPLIFIED METHODS
Q.T. Pham, School of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry, University of New South Wales
This spreadsheet summarises the most accurate simplified equations for the prediction of cooling, freezing
and thawing times known to the author at this time (2002). It is provided free of charge for personal study
only, to help you verify that you have interpreted and applied the equations involved correctly. The user is
responsible for ensuring that the equations are used within the range of variables for which the equations
have been derived and that all the underlying assumptions are satisfied. The author accepts no
responsibility for any commercial damage resulting from the use of this spreadsheet.
REFERENCES
Cooling of slab, infinite cylinder and sphere
Ramaswamy; H.S.; Lo, K.V.; Tung; M.A. Simplified equations for transient Temperatures in conductive foods with
convective heat transfer at surface. Journal of Food Science; 1982; 47; 2042-2047.
Cooling of other shapes
Rods and Bricks:
Lin, Z.; Cleland, A.C.; Sellarach, G.F.; Cleland, D.J. Prediction of chilling times for objects of regular multi-
dimensional shapes using a general geometric factor. In Refrigeration Science and Technology 1993-3, International
Institute of Refrigeration, Paris, 1993, 259-267.
Ellipses:
Lin, Z.; Cleland, A.C.; Sellarach, G.F.; Cleland, D.J. A simple method for prediction of chilling times for objects of two-
dimensional irregular shape. International Journal of Refrigeration; 1996; 19; 95-106.
Ellipsoids:
Lin, Z.; Cleland, A.C.; Sellarach, G.F.; Cleland, D.J. A simple method for prediction of chilling times: Extension to
three-dimensional irregular shapes. International Journal of Refrigeration; 1996; 19; 107-114
Freezing of slab, infinite cylinder and sphere
Pham, Q.T.; Freezing of foodstuffs with variations in environmental conditions. 1986. International Journal of
Refrigeration; 9; 290-295.
Freezing/thawing of rods and bricks
Cleland D.J.; Cleland A.C.; Earle R.L. Prediction of freezing & thawing times for multidimensional shapes by simple
formulae. Part : Regular shapes. 1987. International Journal of Refrigeration; 10; 157-164.
Freezing/thawing of ellipses and ellipsoids
Hossain, M.M.; Cleland, D.J.; Cleland, A.C. Prediction of freezing and thawing times for foods of two-dimensional
irregular shape by using a semi-analytical geometric factor. International Journal of Refrigeration; 1992; 15(4); 235-
240.
Freezing/thawing of ellipses and ellipsoids
Hossain, M.M.; Cleland, D.J.; Cleland, A.C. Prediction of freezing and thawing times for foods of three-dimensional
irregular shape by using a semi-analytical geometric factor. International Journal of Refrigeration; 1992; 15(4); 241-
246.
Thawing of slab, infinite cylinder and sphere
Cleland, D.J.; Cleland, A.C.; Earle, R.L.; Byrne, S.J. Prediction of thawing time for foods of simple shape. 1986;
International Journal of Refrigeration; 9; 220-228.
SEE ALSO
Singh, R.P., Heldman D.R., Introduction to Food Engineering, 3rd Edition, Academic Press, London, 2001
COOLING TIME CALCULATION
using the f-j method with approximate f-j equations by Ramaswamy et al (1982) and shape factors by Lin et al (1993, 1996)
INPUTS:
Dimensions (diameter, height or thickness):
Smallest dimension: 0.12 m RESULTS:
Second smallest dimension: 0.24 m Yc < 0.7 - OK to use f-j method.
Largest dimension: 0.50 m time, h Tm, oC
Thermal properties of the product: Slab #NAME? #NAME?
Specific heat (cp): 3800 J/kgK Cylinder #NAME? #NAME?
Thermal conductivity (k): 0.47 W/mK Sphere #NAME? #NAME?
Density: 1050 kg/m3 Rod #NAME? #NAME?
Cooling conditions: Ellipse #NAME? #NAME?
Initial product temperature: 35 oC Cyl D>H #NAME? #NAME?
Air temperature: -2 oC Cyl D<H #NAME? #NAME?
Heat transfer coefficient: 11 W/m2K Brick #NAME? #NAME?
Desired final centre temperature: 5 oC Ellipsoid #NAME? #NAME?
DETAILS OF CALCULATIONS
Preliminary calculations
First check Yc = (Tc-Ta)/(Ti-Ta) = 0.189 Yc < 0.7 - OK to use f-j method.
Thermal diffusivity a = k/rho.cp = 1.178E-07 m2/s
Smallest half-dimension R = 0.060 m
Bi = 1.404
Cooling time for 1-D basic shapes: Slab Cylinder Sphere
N 1 2 3
Phi = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
jc = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
f #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? s
t = -(f/2.303) ln(Yc/jc) = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? s
Cooling time in hours = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? h
jm #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
Ym = jm.exp(-2.303t/f) = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
Tm = Ta + (Ti-Ta)Ym = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? oC
Volume V = 0.12 0.0113 0.0009 m3/m
Heat evolved = rho.cp.V(Ti-Tm) = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? J/m
Mean heat load = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
W/m2 W/m W
Cooling time for 2-D shapes: Rod Ellipse
Dimensional ratios:
b1 = 2.00 2.00
b2 = 1.00E+30 1.00E+30
E0 = 1.542 1.542
p1 = 0.75 1.01
p2 = 0 0
p3 = -1 1
F(b1) = 0.2121 0.2879
F(b2) = 0.0000 0.0000
E_inf = 0.909 1.041
E_cool = 1.168 1.263
Phi = #NAME? #NAME?
f = 2.303Phi.R^2/a = #NAME? #NAME? s
Lambda 2.55 2.00
gamma1 2.55 2.00
gamma2 1.00E+30 1.00E+30
j_inf = 1.514 1.565
jc = 1.374 1.378
Yc = 0.189 0.189
t = -(f/2.303) ln(Yc/jc) = #NAME? #NAME? s, or
Cooling time in hours = #NAME? #NAME? h
No. of dimensions, N = 2 2
jm = 0.993 0.996
Ym = jm.exp(-2.303*t/f) = #NAME? #NAME?
Tm = Ta + (Ti-Ta)Ym = #NAME? #NAME? oC
Volume V = 0.0288 0.0226 m3/m
Heat evolved = rho.cp.V(Ti-Tm) = #NAME? #NAME? J/m
Mean heat load = #NAME? #NAME? W/m
Cooling time for 3-D shapes: Cylinder Cylinder Brick Ellipsoid
D>H D<H
Dimensional ratios:
b1 = 2.00 1.00 2.00 2.00
b2 = 2.00 2.00 4.17 4.17
E0 = 2.100 2.558 1.858 1.858
p1 = 1.01 1.01 0.75 1.01
p2 = 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.24
p3 = -1 -1 -1 1
F(b1) = 0.2121 0.9770 0.2121 0.2879
F(b2) = 0.2121 0.2121 0.0219 0.0933
E_inf = 1.12 1.90 0.925 1.16
E_cool = 1.501 2.204 1.270 1.453
Phi = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
f = 2.303Phi.R^2/a = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? s
Lambda 2.45 1.00 2.55 2.00
gamma1 2.45 1.00 2.55 2.00
gamma2 2.45 3 6.25 4.17
j_inf = 1.769 1.797 1.519 1.632
jc = 1.528 1.373 1.377 1.417
Yc = 0.189 0.189 0.189 0.189
t = -(f/2.303) ln(Yc/jc) = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? s, or
Cooling time in hours = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? h
No. of dimensions, N = 3 3 3 3
jm = 0.939 0.844 0.846 0.871
Ym = jm.exp(-2.303t/f) = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME?
Tm = Ta + (Ti-Ta)Ym = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? oC
Volume V = 0.00543 0.00271 0.01440 0.00754 m3
Heat evolved = rho.cp.V(Ti-Tm) = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? J
Mean heat load = #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? W
using the f-j method with approximate f-j equations by Ramaswamy et al (1982) and shape factors by Lin et al (1993, 1996)
Q
#NAME? W/m2
#NAME? W/m
#NAME? W
#NAME? W/m
#NAME? W/m
#NAME? W
#NAME? W
#NAME? W
#NAME? W
Yc < 0.7 - OK to use f-j method.
FREEZING TIME CALCULATION
using Pham's (1986) method with shape factors by Cleland and co-workers
INPUTS:
Dimensions (diameter, height or thickness):
Smallest dimension: 0.12 m
Second smallest dimension: 0.24 m
Largest dimension: 0.50 m
Thermal properties of the product:
Specific heat of unfrozen product (cu): 3800 J/kgK RESULTS:
Thermal conductivity of unfrozen product (ku): 0.47 W/mK
Density of unfrozen product: 1050 kg/m3
Specific heat of frozen product (cf): 1900 J/kgK Slab
Thermal conductivity of frozen product (kf): 1.35 W/mK Cylinder
Density of frozen product: 970 kg/m3 Sphere
Latent heat 209000 J/kg Rod
Freezing conditions: Ellipse
Initial product temperature: 35 oC Cyl D>H
Air temperature: -40 oC Cyl D<H
Heat transfer coefficient: 11 W/m2K Brick
Desired final centre temperature: -18 oC Ellipsoid
SOLUTION
Freezing time of simple shapes (Pham 1986 method)
Slab Cylinder Sphere
Half-thickness R = 0.06 m
Biot number, Bi (based on frozen product) = 0.49
Tfm = -7.13 oC
DH1 = rho_u.cu (Ti-Tfm) = 1.68E+08 J/m3
DT1 = (Ti+Tfm)/2 Ta = 53.9 oC
DH2 = rho_f [Lf + cf(Tfm Tc)] 2.23E+08 J/m3
DT2 = Tfm-Ta = 32.9 oC
E_freeze = 1 2 3
tf = 67165 33582 22388 s
Freezing time in hours = 18.7 9.33 6.22 h
Freezing time of Rod Brick Cylinder Cylinder
H<D D<H
G1 1 1 1 2
G2 1 1 2 0
G3 0 1 0 1
b1 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.00
2.32 b1^ -1.77 0.680 0.680 0.680 2.320
X(2.32 b1^ -1.77) 0.412 0.412 0.412 0.705
E1 0.282 0.282 0.282 0.920
b2 1.0E+30 4.17 2.00 2.00
2.32 b2^ -1.77 0.000 0.186 0.680 0.680
X(2.32 b2^ -1.77) 0.000 0.161 0.412 0.412
E2 0.000 0.041 0.229 0.229
E_freeze = 1.282 1.323 1.564 2.229
tf 52394 50782 42948 30134
Freezing time in hours = 14.6 14.1 11.9 8.4
Freezing time of Ellipse Ellipsoid
b1 2.00 2.00
b2 4.17
2nd term in eqn for E_freeze 0.418 0.418
3rd term in eqn for E_freeze 0 0.148
E_freeze = 1.418 1.566
tf 47369 42893 s
Freezing time in hours = 13.2 11.9 h
time, h
18.7
9.3
6.2
14.6
13.2
11.9
8.4
14.1
11.9
s
h
THAWING TIME CALCULATION
using Cleland's (1986) method with shape factors by Cleland and co-workers
INPUTS:
Dimensions (diameter, height or thickness):
Smallest dimension: 0.081 m
Second smallest dimension: 0.151 m
Largest dimension: 0.15 m
Thermal properties of the product:
Freezing point (Tf): -0.6 oC RESULTS:
Specific heat of unfrozen product (cu): 3710 J/kgK
Thermal conductivity of unfrozen product (ku): 0.55 W/mK
Density of unfrozen product: 1000 kg/m3 Slab
Specific heat of frozen product (cf): 1900 J/kgK Cylinder
Thermal conductivity of frozen product (kf): 1.65 W/mK Sphere
Density of frozen product: 1000 kg/m3 Rod
Latent heat 206000 J/kg Ellipse
Freezing conditions: Cyl D<H
Initial product temperature: -21.8 oC Cyl D>H
Air temperature: 13.8 oC Brick
Heat transfer coefficient: 41 W/m2K Ellipsoid
SOLUTION
Thawing time of simple shapes (Cleland et al. 1986 method)
Slab Cylinder Sphere
Half-thickness R 0.0405 m
Bi = hR/ku 3.02
DeltaH10 2.261E+08
Ste = Rho_u.cu(Ta - Tf )/DeltaH10 0.236
Pk = rho_f.cf (Tf - Ti )/DeltaH10 0.178
P1 0.872
P2 0.423
E_freeze 1 2 3
t_thaw 33313 16657 11104 s
Thawing time in hours 9.25 4.6 3.1 h
Thawing time of Rod Brick Cylinder Cylinder
H<D D<H
G1 1 1 1 2
G2 1 1 2 0
G3 0 1 0 1
b1 1.86 1.86 1.86 1.00
2.32 b1^ -1.77 0.770 0.770 0.770 2.320
X(2.32 b1^ -1.77) 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.173
E1 0.179 0.179 0.179 0.777
b2 1.0E+30 1.86 1.86 1.86
2.32 b2^ -1.77 0.000 0.770 0.770 0.770
X(2.32 b2^ -1.77) 0.000 0.065 0.065 0.065
E2 0.000 0.082 0.082 0.082
E_freeze = 1.179 1.260 1.357 2.082
t_thaw 28265 26433 24545 16003
Thawing time in hours 7.9 7.3 6.8 4.4
Thawing time of Ellipse Ellipsoid
b1 1.86 1.86
b2 1.86
2nd term in eqn for E_freeze 0.353 0.353
3rd term in eqn for E_freeze 0 0.353
E_freeze = 1.353 1.706
t_thaw 24623 19528 s
Thawing time in hours 6.8 5.4 h
RESULTS:
time, h
9.3
4.6
3.1
7.9
6.8
4.4
6.8
7.3
5.4
s
h