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Modelling moisture uptake in a cereal grain

Modelling moisture uptake in a cereal grain
Modelling moisture uptake in a cereal grain
Recent experimental data have revealed the spatial and temporal structure of moisture content within a cereal grain immersed in boiling water. A simple model of the water's motion is presented, guided by the observed behaviour, which allows for nonlinear (exponential) diffusion within the grain and a constant mass-transfer coefficient to represent the pericarp on the outer surface. Numerical results are presented illustrating the close relationship of the predictions to the experimental results, with the mass-transfer coefficient as a fitting parameter. The model is studied using asymptotic analysis, in the limit of large activation energy in the diffusion coefficient and large mass transfer. The analysis gives insight into the three phases of the process, consisting of initial linear diffusion, linear motion of the moisture front into the grain, and slow filling of the grain in a relatively uniform manner. The problem is also studied using mean-action-time analysis to derive simple expressions for the time for the grain to saturate.
1471-678X
265-287
Landman, K.A.
1e2409d6-28c3-460f-adcd-65f3701892b3
Please, C.P.
118dffe7-4b38-4787-a972-9feec535839e
Landman, K.A.
1e2409d6-28c3-460f-adcd-65f3701892b3
Please, C.P.
118dffe7-4b38-4787-a972-9feec535839e

Landman, K.A. and Please, C.P. (1999) Modelling moisture uptake in a cereal grain. IMA Journal of Management Mathematics, 10 (4), 265-287. (doi:10.1093/imaman/10.4.265).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Recent experimental data have revealed the spatial and temporal structure of moisture content within a cereal grain immersed in boiling water. A simple model of the water's motion is presented, guided by the observed behaviour, which allows for nonlinear (exponential) diffusion within the grain and a constant mass-transfer coefficient to represent the pericarp on the outer surface. Numerical results are presented illustrating the close relationship of the predictions to the experimental results, with the mass-transfer coefficient as a fitting parameter. The model is studied using asymptotic analysis, in the limit of large activation energy in the diffusion coefficient and large mass transfer. The analysis gives insight into the three phases of the process, consisting of initial linear diffusion, linear motion of the moisture front into the grain, and slow filling of the grain in a relatively uniform manner. The problem is also studied using mean-action-time analysis to derive simple expressions for the time for the grain to saturate.

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Published date: 1999

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Local EPrints ID: 29246
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/29246
ISSN: 1471-678X
PURE UUID: da3780ca-d95f-428c-a047-b72bbdc592d1

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Date deposited: 03 Jan 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:29

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Contributors

Author: K.A. Landman
Author: C.P. Please

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