Three-dimensional numerical investigation of the displacement of shear-thinning milk protein concentrates in spacer-filled channel

Rinsing is an important part of the cleaning procedure applied to the spiral-wound membrane (SWM) modules in the dairy industry. In this work, we numerically investigated the displacement of non-Newtonian reconstituted milk protein concentrates in a feed spacer channel using OpenFOAM and compared the results with experimental data obtained in an SWM pilot plant. The model consists of the classical mass and momentum balance equations for an incompressible viscous mixture coupled with an advection-diffusion equation for the milk concentration. The power-law model was utilized to describe the shear-thinning viscosity of the milk protein concentrates. The shear-thinning behavior was further assumed to depend on the milk protein content. The calculations confirmed significantly shorter rinsing times and lower mixed-phase volumes for lower milk protein concentrations. The rinsing time can further be lowered by increasing the volumetric flow rate. Through the numerical simulations, we identified nearly inaccessible zones behind the filament crossings that prolong the rinsing process.     «

Rinsing is an important part of the cleaning procedure applied to the spiral-wound membrane (SWM) modules in the dairy industry. In this work, we numerically investigated the displacement of non-Newtonian reconstituted milk protein concentrates in a feed spacer channel using OpenFOAM and compared the results with experimental data obtained in an SWM pilot plant. The model consists of the classical mass and momentum balance equations for an incompressible viscous mixture coupled with an advection...     »