A discrete element modeling investigation of the centrifugal separation process of bovine milk somatic cells

Authors : Orçun EKİN, Yunus ÇERÇİ

Pages : 95-109

View : 33 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 2020-03-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Number of somatic cells insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(white blood cells); in bovine milk matrix is one of the defining characteristics of milk quality. An increasing Somatic Cell Count insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SCC); in milk negatively effects the texture, color and taste of the substance, reducing its shelf life, hence the commercial value. With somatic cells being considered as sparse particles in a continuous medium, disk-stack centrifuges have become the most common industrial application of reducing and controlling the SCC index. In this study, a Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Modeling insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CFD-DEM); mainframe on Euler-Lagrange coupling basis is developed to determine the separation ability of a clarifying disk-stack centrifuge. The 3D model is simplified from an actual machine while strictly adopting the geometrical features of the disc-stack. The CFD-DEM model yields a 3.76% relative error in separation ability at average particle diameter, when compared to field tests of the machine at steady operation. Simulations show an increasing g-force, combined with reduced feed rates yields the best separation ability for the process. With optimum process parameters generating a 91.05% sedimentation ratio, the upper limit of g-force at 10 ton/h feed rate offers a 95% separation efficiency, while the lower limit of feed rate offers 96% at 7,700rpm.
Keywords : Centrifugal separation, Euler Lagrange Coupling, CFD DEM, bovine milk, somatic cells

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