Sterilization is still the most common way of food preservation based on heat treatments and it is one of the basic levels of baby food processing. To achieve sufficient sterility while minimizing cooking in modified shapes of food containers, the temperature distribution patterns should be analyzed. Having a good analysis about the heat transfer mechanism in the canning industry helps us to improve the food quality, optimize the processing condition and preventing energy loss. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used to predict flow behavior of fluid foods and it’s a good way to predict temperature profile of cans during processing. An experimental and computational study on Semi-rigid aluminum containers which are widely used in Iranian ready to eat food industries, was carried out. The wheat based baby food formula was studied about Thermophysical properties and the can geometry was simplified, during the study. 3D symmetric Geometries was designed based on dimensions of Semi-rigid aluminum based packages, Alupak type B 232. A mathematical model was developed by solving the governing equations for continuity, momentum and energy conservation using a finite volume method of solution. The average temperature of symmetric plane, SHZ movement and time-temperature distribution of the lowest temperature in SHZ were compared between experimented and predicted cases. The velocity vector showed a circulation towards the core. The SHZ location was investigated and sterility calculations showed 23.8 minutes as F value , that should be optimized based on the same structure foods. Average temperature of the experimented Time-temperature profiles and the predicted Time-temperature profile based on the position of probe, showed a less than 1% difference. The sterilization can be optimized by decreasing 19 minutes of heating period. The adjusted F 0 would be 6.1 minutes in accordance to the same starch and meat based food by F 0 of 4.8-7.5 and this amount is suitable an an efficient sterility. Key Words Slowest heating zone, Ansys Fluent software, Semi-rigid container, Baby food, sterilization
