Food processing means optimised
15 Jan 2000
Over the past six years, MAFF and the DTI have funded the department's involvement in a Link Scheme to optimise food processing operations involving solid-like materials and to design novel optimal processing equipment.
The £2m scheme, headed by Brian Briscoe, has so far involved Unilever, IFR (Norwich), Francis Shaw and Walkers Crisps.
If the wall frictions and bulk rheology for a given material are known, then a geometry or process engine design can provide desired behaviour, using finite or distinct element methods.
The programme has developed a variety of routes to determine wall frictions and rheology for foodstuffs, for this purpose. Numerical simulations have been implemented and a test engine constructed based on the single screw.
Various dissemination packages are being produced with a view to offering a flexible design package to the food processing community.
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