4. A spherical food product is packed in a 3-mm thick polypropylene plastic before being frozen in an air-blast freezer.

The initial product temperature is 10°C and the cold air - 40°C. The product has a 7 cm diameter with density of 1000
kg/m3, the initial freezing temperature is -1.25°C, the thermal conductivity of the frozen product is 1.2 W/(m-°K), and the
latent heat of fusion is 250 kJ/kg. Compute the freezing time. (Convective heat transfer coefficient, h c = 50 W/m2-°K

ρ f Lf 1 x p R ' a2
t F=
T f −T m
'
(
[P a +
h kp
+
kf )]

Given:

Packaging material thickness; x p = 3 mm = 0.003m

Product diameter a = 7 cm = 0.07 m
Product density ρ f = 1000 kg/m3
Latent heat of fusion Lf = 250 kJ/kg
Initial product temperature T i = 10°C
Air temperature T m= - 40°C
Initial freezing temperature T f = -1.25°C
The thermal conductivity of the frozen product; k = 1.2 W/(m-°K)
Shape constants for spheres:
1
P' =
6
1
R' =
24
Convective heat-transfer coefficient hc = 50 W/m2-°K
Thermal Conductivity of Polypropylene = 0.1-0.22 W/(m-°K)

ρ f Lf 1 x p R ' a2
t F=
T f −T m
'
(
[P a +
h kp
+
kf )]

(1000 kg /m3 )(250 kJ /kg) 1 1 0.003m (1 /24 )(0.07 m)2

tF=
−1.25 ° C−(−40 ° C) 6 [
( 0.07 m )
( + +
)
50 W /(m2−° K ) 0.2 W /(m−° K) 1.2 W /( m−° K ) ]
(250000 kJ /m3 ) 7 m2−° K 49 m3 −° K
tF=
7
271.9 K −(233.15 K ) 600
m
200 W[ ( +
288000 W ) ]
(250000 kJ / m3) 3
−4 m −° K
tF=
38.75 K (
5.7847 x 10
W )
(250000000 J /m3) m3−° K
tF=
38.75 K (
5.7847 x 10−4
J /s )
t F =3732.06 sec

t F =3732.06 sec ( 36001 hrsec )

t F =1.037 hr
1. A 5 cm-thick beef steak is being frozen in a -30°C room. The product has 73% moisture content, density of 970 kg/m 3,
and thermal conductivity (frozen) of 1.1 W/(m-K). (a.) Estimate the freezing time using Plank’s equation. The product has
an initial freezing temperature of -1.75°C, and the movement of air in the freezing room provides a convective heat-
transfer coefficient of 5 W/(m2 K). (b.) if packed in 2.5 mm PE low density plastic calculate for Freezing time.

Given:

Product thickness a = 5 cm = 0.05 m

Air temperature T m= - 30°C
Product moisture content MC = 73% = 0.73
Product density ρ f = 970 kg/m3
The thermal conductivity of the frozen product; k f = 1.1 W/(m-°K)
Initial freezing temperature T f = -1.75°C
Convective heat-transfer coefficient hc = 5 W/m2-°K
Packaging material thickness; x p = 2.5 mm = 0.0025m
Shape constants for infinite cylinder:
1
P' =
4
1
R' =
16
Thermal Conductivity of PE low density plastic = 0.33 W/(m-°K)

Required:
a. Estimate the freezing time using Plank’s equation (unpacked)
b. Estimate the freezing time using Plank’s equation if packed in 2.5 mm PE low density plastic

Solution:

a. Freezing time using Plank’s equation (unpacked)

Lf 255.9 kJ /kg
=
73 % 75 %
(255.9 kJ /kg)(73 %)
Lf =
75 %
(255.9 kJ /kg)(73 %)
Lf = Lf =249.08 kJ /kg
75 %
ρf Lf P' a R' a2
tF= (
T f −T m h
+
kf )
(970 kg /m3)(249.08 kJ /kg) (1/4 )(0.05 m) (1/16)(0.05 m)2
tF=
−1.75 ° C−(−30 ° C ) ( +
5 W /(m2−K ) 1.1 W /(m−K ) )
 (241607.6 kJ /m 3) 1 m 3−K 1 m3 −K
tF=
271.4 K−(243.15 K ) 400 W (+
7040 W )

(241607.6 kJ /m 3) 93 m3 −K
tF= (
28.25 K )
35200 W
3 3
(241607600 J /m ) 93 m −K
t =
F
28.25 K ( 35200 J /s )
t F =22596.04 sec

t F =22596.04 sec ( 36001 hrsec )

t F =6.28 hr

b. Freezing time using Plank’s equation if packed in 2.5 mm PE low density plastic

ρ f Lf 1 x p R ' a2
t F=
T f −T m (
'
[P a +
h kp
+
kf )]

(970 kg /m 3)(249.08 kJ /kg) 1 1 0.0025m (1/16)(0.05 m)2

tF=
−1.75 ° C−(−30 ° C ) 4 [
( 0.05m )
( + +
5 W /( m2 −K) 0.33W /(m−K ) 1.1W /(m−K ) ) ]
(241607.6 kJ /m 3) 137 m2 −K 1 m 3−K
tF=
1
271.4 K−(243.15 K ) 80
m [ (
660 W
+
7040 W )( )]
(241607.6 kJ /m 3) 289 m 3−K
tF=
28.25 K [105600 W ]
(241607600 J /m 3) 289 m 3−K
tF=
28.25 K [
105600 J / s ]
t F =23405.94 sec

t F =23405.94 sec ( 36001 hrsec )

t F =6.50 hr

2. Partially frozen ice cream is being placed in a package before completion of the freezing process. The package has
dimensions of 8 cm by 10 cm by 20 cm and is placed in air blast freezing with convective heat coefficient of 50 W/(m 2-K)
for freezing. The product temperature is - 5°C when placed in the package, and the air temperature is -25°C. The product
density is 700 kg/m 3, the thermal conductivity (frozen) is 1.2 W/(m-K), and the specific heat of the frozen product is 1.9
kJ/(kg-K). If the latent heat to be removed during blast freezing is 100 kJ/kg, estimate the freezing time. (b.) if packed in
2 mm PE high density plastic calculate for Freezing time.

Given:
package dimensions = 8cm by 10 cm by 20 cm
Convective heat-transfer coefficient hc = 50 W/m2-°K
Initial product temperature T F = -5°C
Air temperature T m= - 25°C
Product density ρ f = 700 kg/m3
The thermal conductivity of the frozen product; k f = 1.2 W/(m-°K)
Specific Heat = 1.9 kJ/(kg-K)
Latent heat of fusion Lf = 100 kJ/kg

ρ f L f P ' a R ' a2
t F= (
T f −T m h
+
kf )
(700 kg / m3 )(100 kJ /kg) (1/2)( 0.2 m) (1/8)(0 .2 m)2
tF=
−3 ° C−(−25 ° C ) ( +
5 0 W /(m 2−K ) 1.2 W /(m−K ) )
(70000 kJ /m3 ) 37 m3 −K
tF=
22 K 600 0 W ( )
(70000000 J /m 3) 37 m3 −K
tF=
22 K 60 00 J /s ( )
t F =19621.21 sec

t F =19621.21 sec ( 36001 hrsec )

t F =5.45 h r

ρ f Lf 1 x p R ' a2
t F=
T f −T m
'
(
[P a +
h kp
+
kf )]

(70 0 kg /m3 )(100 kJ /kg) 1 1 0.002 m (1 /8)( 0.2 m)2

tF=
−5 ° C−(−25 ° C ) 2 [
( 0. 2 m )
( + +
5 0 W /(m 2−K ) 0. 485 W /(m−K) 1. 2W /(m−K ) ) ]
(70000 kJ /m3 ) 1 11 7 m2 −K 1 m 3−K
tF=
20 K 10
m[ (
4850 W
+
2 40 W )( )]
(70000 kJ /m3 ) 3
−3 m −K
tF=
20 K [
6.579 x 10
W ]
(700000 00 J /m 3) 3
−3 m −K
tF=
20K [
6.579 x 10
J /s ]
t F =23 026.5 sec
t F =23 026.5 sec ( 36001 hrsec )
t F =6. 396 hr