Ying Wang

Vacuum freeze-dried products exhibit properties characteristic of porous media, rendering them superior in both drying and rehydration capabilities. However, the process of sublimation drying is constrained by its substantial time and energy costs. To comprehensively grasp its technological process and identify the optimal process parameters, the cellular automata method was employed for sublimation process simulation. Carrot slices, measuring 10 mm in thickness and 40 mm in radius, were selected for both simulation and experimentation. The sublimation process was characterized using a two-dimensional heat and mass transfer equation, inclusive of a dusty gas model. Additionally, a cellular automaton model was applied to simulate the mass transfer process, temperature, and moisture content changes in the sublimation drying stage. Then, the accuracy of the model was verified through experimentation. There was a remarkable alignment between simulation and experimental outcomes, with determination coefficients R2 of 99.4% for moisture content and 97.6% for temperature variations.

Water scarcity is a significant global problem. Considerable water resources are consumed in the production of livestock and poultry products, thus posing a huge challenge to global freshwater resources. Sheep meat has the second highest water footprint among livestock meat products. Furthermore, as the demand for sheep meat increases on a year by year basis, water consumption continues to rise as a result. In order to make better informed decisions around water management, it is necessary to estimate the water footprint of animal husbandry. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the water footprint of sheep in Northern China. It analyzes the water footprint of feed production and virtual water using CROPWAT, based on the water footprint of sheep and goats in Shanxi under different production systems and feed components. The water footprint was calculated to be 6.03 m³/kg for sheep and 5.05 m³/kg for goats, respectively. Therefore, the water footprint of three farming modes, including grazing mixed and industrial in the Shanxi region was slightly higher than what other experts have evaluated for China. These data provide crucial information that can help reduce water resource consumption in animal husbandry and contribute to the development of sustainable strategies.