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Experimental validation of k–ε RANS-CFD on a high-pressure homogenizer valve

Håkansson, Andreas LU ; Fuchs, Laszlo LU ; Revstedt, Johan LU ; Trägårdh, Christian LU ; Bergenståhl, Björn LU and Innings, Fredrik (2012) In Chemical Engineering Science 71. p.264-273
Abstract
Since the emulsification in the High-Pressure Homogenizer (HPH) is controlled by hydrodynamic forces, the turbulent flow field in the valve region is of significant interest. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been used for this in many studies. However, there are reasons to question if the utilized turbulence models, with their inherent assumptions and simplifications, could accurately describe the influential aspects of the flow.



This study compares CFD simulations using the methods from previous studies with experimental measurements in a model HPH valve. The results show that the region upstream of the gap can be described accurately regardless of turbulence model and that the gap region can be... (More)
Since the emulsification in the High-Pressure Homogenizer (HPH) is controlled by hydrodynamic forces, the turbulent flow field in the valve region is of significant interest. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been used for this in many studies. However, there are reasons to question if the utilized turbulence models, with their inherent assumptions and simplifications, could accurately describe the influential aspects of the flow.



This study compares CFD simulations using the methods from previous studies with experimental measurements in a model HPH valve. The results show that the region upstream of the gap can be described accurately regardless of turbulence model and that the gap region can be captured by using one of the more refined k−ε models. None of the studied turbulence models were able to describe the details of the highly turbulent region downstream of the gap. The obtained results are also discussed in relation to generalizability and limitations in using CFD simulations for understanding the emulsification in the HPH. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
PIV Measurement, Turbulence, modelling
in
Chemical Engineering Science
volume
71
pages
264 - 273
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000300235600028
  • scopus:84855813390
ISSN
0009-2509
DOI
10.1016/j.ces.2011.12.039
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b8ba1cb8-c48d-4922-92e9-54c1c30aa066 (old id 2439165)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:22:43
date last changed
2023-11-12 16:13:19
@article{b8ba1cb8-c48d-4922-92e9-54c1c30aa066,
  abstract     = {{Since the emulsification in the High-Pressure Homogenizer (HPH) is controlled by hydrodynamic forces, the turbulent flow field in the valve region is of significant interest. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been used for this in many studies. However, there are reasons to question if the utilized turbulence models, with their inherent assumptions and simplifications, could accurately describe the influential aspects of the flow.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
This study compares CFD simulations using the methods from previous studies with experimental measurements in a model HPH valve. The results show that the region upstream of the gap can be described accurately regardless of turbulence model and that the gap region can be captured by using one of the more refined k−ε models. None of the studied turbulence models were able to describe the details of the highly turbulent region downstream of the gap. The obtained results are also discussed in relation to generalizability and limitations in using CFD simulations for understanding the emulsification in the HPH.}},
  author       = {{Håkansson, Andreas and Fuchs, Laszlo and Revstedt, Johan and Trägårdh, Christian and Bergenståhl, Björn and Innings, Fredrik}},
  issn         = {{0009-2509}},
  keywords     = {{PIV Measurement; Turbulence; modelling}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{264--273}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Chemical Engineering Science}},
  title        = {{Experimental validation of k–ε RANS-CFD on a high-pressure homogenizer valve}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2011.12.039}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ces.2011.12.039}},
  volume       = {{71}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}