Application Of Simulation Technology In The Research Of Whirlpool Separator Structure

Because of the excellent solid-liquid separation effect, whirlpool separator whose internal solid-liquid separation mechanism involves solid-liquid two-phase flow, the formation and sedimentation of hot trub and other complex physical and chemical processes,has been widely used in beer brewing. The performance of whirlpool separator is good or not directly affect the subsequent production. With the rapidly development of computer technology and computational fluid dynamics, the use of CFD numerical simulation technology has become one of the important adjuncts to engineering design.CFD method had been used to establish the numerical simulation model of whirlpool separator whose volume was 100 L and to verify its correctness and reliability in this paper.Different configurations of 100 m3 sedimentation tanks have been built and computed by CFD technology, the simulation results had been visually analyzed. The main research contents and conclusions are as follows. The geometric modeling and meshing of 100 L whirlpool vat were made by Gambit software. The numerical models were established by ANSYS FLUENT software and were calculated by standard k-ω and RNG k-ε viscous models. The results showed the distribution of hot trub in the bottom of whirlpool separators. The feasibility of numerical simulation method had been verified by comparing simulation result with experimental result and the RNG k-ε viscosity model was determined; The whirlpool vat with0~25 ° incident angles were simulated respectively. The swirling velocity distribution and hot trub settling effect in different models were analyzed. The results showed that whirlpool vat feeding tube with a certain incident angle contributed to the settlement of hot trub. While the incident angle was too large, it would reduce the settlement effect of hot trub; The four 100m3 whirlpool vats with height to diameter ratio of 1.5:1, 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2 were simulated respectively. The swirling velocity distribution and hot trub content in different models were analyzed. The results showed that, in the same volume, the larger diameter was, the faster the wort swirling velocity. When the height to diameter ratio of sedimentation tank diameter was1:(1~1.5), the hot turb would be better focused, settling time would be shorted and settling efficiency would be promoted. While the diameter was too large, it was not conducive to hottrub separation; The 100 m3 whirlpool vats whose feeding tube position was in 1/4 H,1/3H,1/2 H height from the bottom were simulated respectively. The hot trub content distribution and swirling velocity in different models were analyzed. The results showed that tube position too high or too low was harmful to the settlement centralized of hot trub.