JME4110: Product Simulator Box

Language

English (en)

Publication Date

Summer 2026

Document Type

Final Report

Problem Statement

A product simulator also helps make testing repeatable. Real food products can vary in size, shape, packaging, moisture content, and thermal behavior, which can make test results inconsistent from one test to another. A standardized simulator gives the lab a consistent object to measure, so different cases, test runs, and design changes can be compared more fairly. The thermocouple inside the simulator is intended to measure the representative product temperature at a defined location, rather than measuring a random air temperature or surface temperature. The current simulator uses a plastic box with sponge and a glycol mixture to create a thermal mass that responds more like product than air. The sponge helps hold the glycol mixture in place, while the glycol mixture provides the thermal mass needed for product temperature measurement. However, this setup has created practical issues, including glycol leakage, thermocouples becoming loose or disengaged, inconsistent readings based on thermocouple location, and supplier availability problems for the current box.

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Class Name

Mechanical Engineering Design Project (UMSL JME 410)

Comments

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