Se determinaron los coeficientes convectivos de transferencia de calor durante el freído por inmersión de láminas de tilapia Oreochromis niloticus en aceite de palma a diferentes temperaturas. Se cortaron filetes de tilapia en forma de placa y sumergieron en aceite a 130, 150, y 170 °C en una freidora eléctrica de acero inoxidable de seis litros. Las propiedades termofísicas se midieron en función de la temperatura y composición del alimento, usando el programa computacional DEPROTER. Los coeficientes convectivos fueron determinados a partir de gráficas de relaciones adimensionales tiempo -vs- temperatura, y estos disminuyeron al aumentar la temperatura del aceite, presentando valores de 46.76, 34.61 y 32.66 W/m²K a 130, 150 y 170 °C respectivamente. Se observa que a mayor temperatura del medio de fritura, mayor es la tasa de pérdida de agua desde el producto, y menor su energía interna, y por tanto menor es el coeficiente convectivo de transferencia de calor.

The convective heat transfer coefficients during deep-fat frying of Oreochromis niloticus fillets in palm oil at different temperatures were determined. Tilapia fillets were plate-shaped cut and dipped in oil at 130, 150, and 170 °C in an electric fryer six liter stainless steel. Thermophysical properties were measured as a function of temperature and composition of the food, using the computer program DEPROTER. The convective coefficients were determined from plots of time -vs- dimensionless temperature relationships, and these decreased with increasing oil temperature, with values of 46.76, 34.61 and 32.66 W/m²K at 130, 150 and 170 °C respectively. It was observed that the higher is the temperature of the frying medium, the greater is the rate of water loss from the product, and lower is the internal energy, and therefore lower is the convective heat transfer coefficient.