Prediction of Deposition Patterns in a Pilot-Scale Spray Dryer Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulations

Abstract

This paper presents the predictions of deposition patterns using CFD simulations based on transient-flow behaviour of a 1.6 m high, 0.8 m diameter, pilot-scale spray dryer, following from previous studies assessing the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to predict the deposition on a plate in a simple box configuration. The predicted deposition fluxes here have been compared with experimental data for the deposition fluxes of skim milk, maltodextrin and water. The CFD simulation results suggested that the effect of transient air flows on the vertical patterns of deposition fluxes with distance up the dryer wall for no inlet air swirl is small. The CFD simulations underpredicted the experimental values of the deposition fluxes by approximately 50%, but the simulations predicted the same experimental trends when changing the main air flow rate through the dryer. The experimentally-measured deposition fluxes were 38%, on average, higher at a main air flow rate of 113 kg/h compared with those at a flow rate of 88 kg/h. The CFD simulations predicted an average increase in deposition flux of 26% at 113 kg/h compared with 88 kg/h, so the trends with this change in operating conditions have been predicted well by the CFD simulations. One-way particle coupling has therefore shown correct trends in the deposition fluxes with respect to both positions in the dryer and different operating conditions, and such one-way coupling is several orders of magnitude faster than the more rigorous two-way coupling.