Study of heat transfer coefficients and temperature distribution in a continuous flow pasteurizer with helical tubes using model fluids in laminar flow

Abstract Modeling of continuous pasteurization is useful for predicting time-temperature history of the product and lethality. The use of helical tubes in the heat exchangers and holding tube can simplify modeling in laminar flow due to the narrowing of the residence time distribution. To present this approach, three model fluids (water, 80% glycerol/water and 1% carboxymethylcellulose) were processed in 25 conditions in a pilot scale unit and the overall heat transfer coefficients of the heater, cooler and holding tube were correlated with Reynolds and Prandtl numbers. For heater and cooler, 3–7 parameters were needed for a fair adjustment, while in the holding tube an average value was obtained. Using these correlations, a simple unidimensional model was simulated to predict the time-temperature history and lethality distribution. Simulation examples for processing at 90 °C provided the F-value contribution of each step showing that this model can be useful for process analysis and design.