Finite element analysis of temperature distribution in microwaved cylindrical potato tissue

Abstract A new finite element formulation for the analysis of temperature distribution in a microwaved potato cylinder was developed by deriving and incorporating a non-linear heat generation term for an axisymmetric and transient heat transfer problem. Using the dielectric properties of potato, temperature distribution was predicted well for the center temperatures lower than 80°C. The deviation between the predicted and experimental temperatures beyond 80°C was corrected using the dielectric properties of water. Pronounced heating was found along the longitudinal axis passing through the center point of the potato cylinder.