3‐D Milk Fouling Modeling of Plate Heat Exchangers with Different Surface Finishes Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Codes

Abstract

Milk fouling and self‐cleanability of the heat exchanger surface during the pasteurization process has gained attention from industries as well as academia. In particular, the antifouling mechanism associated with plate corrugation profiles causing the extreme turbulent flow scheme and surface coatings to reduce the surface energy is uncertain. This study was aimed to develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) model in three‐dimensional (3‐D) environment, which could estimate antifouling performances of plate heat exchangers (PHEs) during milk pasteurization process. It was the first attempt to simulate the fouling and temperature distribution patterns on realistic corrugated surfaces of PHE unit with different surface treatments. The conventional stainless steel surface and stainless steel plates coated with Lectrofluor 641 and graded Ni‐P‐polytetrafluoroethylene were compared for their antifouling performances. A transient 3‐D fouling model was developed based on heat and mass transfer equations, and fouling kinetics involving diffusion and protein adhesion mechanisms. Pattern and size of corrugations of actual PHE were measured and subsequently used to build 3‐D solid geometry using AutoCAD (Autodesk, San Rafael, CA). The geometry file was meshed using Gambit software (Fluent Inc., Lebanon, NH) and further transferred to CFD codes. Fouling predictions based on chemical kinetics and the temperature‐dependent parameters accounting for different surface energy values were close to experimental data within a maximum prediction error of 7%. The developed 3‐D fouling model is expected to meet the demand of food industries to correlate the surface energy with the self‐cleanability of food thermal process equipments and seek the theoretical solution. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Milk‐fouling phenomena of plate heat exchangers (PHEs) result in an increase of energy consumption, extra maintenance, higher labor costs and a decrease in the productivity. In addition, fouling deposits can cause the growth of unwanted microorganisms on the corrugated surfaces of PHEs. In this study, the transient three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics model was developed to describe fouling phenomena in consideration of realistic corrugation profiles and estimate the amount of surface fouling based on the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic performances of the PHEs and surface characteristics (conventionally uncoated stainless steel [SS‐316] and stainless steel surfaces with Lectrofluor 641 and graded Ni‐P‐polytetrafluoroethylene).

Effect of casein/whey ratio on the thermal denaturation of whey proteins and subsequent fouling in a plate heat exchanger

“…Surprisingly, the minimum fouling rate observed at Casein/WPI of 0.2 is close to that obtained for milk fouling in pasteurization studies, e.g. between 150 and 250 mg/(m 2 ⋅min) (Barish and Goddard, 2013; Choi et al, 2013).…”

A Numerical Simulation Under Milk Fouling in A Plate Heat Exchanger in The Presence of a Porous Medium

“…Recently, most researchers used the Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD to solve the heat exchangers equations (LMTD, NTU.) because it is considered as a powerful micro process and a timesaving method especially during design phase have developed a CFD simulation, with the use of the Fluent software [20][21][22][23][24][25]. The results were applied for the design and commissioning of the HEP.…”

Modelagem e simulação dinâmica da pasteurização contínua de leite sujeito à incrustação.

“…Uma quantidade considerável de trabalhos a respeito da modelagem, simulação e/ou otimização dos processos térmicos do leite em trocadores de calor sujeitos, ou não, à incrustação, já foi realizada dada a importância deste tema (AGUIAR, BENNETT, 2007;BENNING et al, 2003;BOUVIER et al, 2014;CHOI et al, 2013;CHANGANI et al, 1997;FRYER, 1989;GAO et al, 2010;GEORGIADIS et al, 1998a;GRIJSPEERDT et al, 1999;GEORGIADIS, MACCHIATO, 2000;GRIJSPEERDT et al, 2004;GUTIERREZ et al, 2014;SAHO et al, 2005;JUN, PURI, 2005a;JUN, PURI, 2006;PETIT et al, 2013).…”

“…Porém, isto constitui em uma simplificação devido ao efeito da geometria das placas utilizadas na indústria (YOUCEF et al, 2009). A modelagem bidimensional do fenômeno é algo complexo e dispendioso, de modo que a maioria dos autores fazem este tipo de estudo para um único canal ou parte deste (CHOI et al, 2013;GRIJSPEERDT et al, 2003;JUN, PURI, 2005a;PETERMEIER et al, 2002;PIEPIÓRKA-STEPUK, DIAKUN, 2014). Muitos trabalhos têm sido realizados com fluidos que simulam o leite bovino (AUGUSTIN et al, 2007;BOXLER et al, 2014;BOXLER et al, 2012;ERABIT et al, 2014;GAO et al, 2010;PATEL et al, 2013;PETIT et al, 2011;.…”