Hi,

We are looking into simulating the drying of an organic suspension with a commercial CFD software. The suspension is being conveyed through the dryer by an Archimedes screw, meaning sliding mesh and VOF (air and suspension phases) are software prequisites.

The organic suspension is also being boiled as it travels through the dryer and releases volatile compounds. I am guessing a multi-phase model would be need to simulate this, alongside, of-course, considerable user input.

Can the complete process be modelled with a commercial CFD software. If so, which would be the most suitable?

Thank you for your help!

I would think that rather than a CFD problem, this is a system analysis problem that would make heavy use of empirical information. It might also be instructive to evaluate uncertainties of the system using probabilistic modeling.

One modeling platform you might investigate for doing this is GoldSim, available at http://www.goldsim.com

Tomy,

I know the support engineer at CD in Nuremberg who wrote a set of macros to run screw compressors. This was aimed a polymer production. This was done using Star-CD 3.2x and the modelling work included moving mesh, VOF and heat transfer.

This is pretty close to what you are asking for.

Kindly call CD-adapco and waive this message in front the salesmen who will then contact you regarding you modelling requirements.

Regards Peter

Tomy,

Just to clarify one point. The macros from CD Nürnberg can be used for both screw compressors and polymer extruders. The macros create the mesh and set up the mesh motion. The rest of the model is standard set up in Star-CD.

A screw compressor is different to an Archimedes screw, but I cannot see any problem with creating a macro to mesh your geometry in minutes using 100% hexahedral cells.

Your choice if you call them.

Regards,

PS I do not work for CD-adapco

Thanks John and Peter,

I guess the the only way is to call the individual CFD companies. Thanks Peter for letting me know that such modelling has been done!I will give cd-adapco a call.