3D milk-fouling model of plate heat exchangers using computational fluid dynamics

A 3D fouling model for milk pasteurization using PHEs (plate heat exchangers) was developed using CFD (computational fluid dynamics). Based on the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic performances of PHEs in a 3D environment, the chemical reaction equations employed for protein denaturation and absorption onto the stainless steel surface were coupled using the FLUENT software. The 10-channel PHE system with both counter-current and cocurrent flows was applied to validate the model by visualizing and quantifying the milk deposit formulated in the fluid channels. The predicted mass deposit values were in good agreement with the experimental data with the prediction error of 0.01 g or 1%. The simulation results based on new PHE system, designed for the uniformity of flow distribution, showed the deposited mass could be reduced to 1/10, compared to the current system under identical energy condition. Although the computational efforts required were quite intensive, the 3D fouling model was validated as an effective tool for design of new plate shape and corrugation profile optimized for minimizing milk fouling.