Investigation of swirl pipe for improving cleaning efficiency in closed processing system

LI, Guozhen (2016) Investigation of swirl pipe for improving cleaning efficiency in closed processing system. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

This thesis provides unique insights into the fundamentals of improving the efficiency of ‘Clean-In-Place’ procedures in closed processing systems by locally introducing intensified hydrodynamic force from swirl flows induced by an optimised four-lobed swirl pipe without increasing the overall flow velocities.

The studies, carried out employing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques, pressure transmitters and a fast response Constant Temperature Anemometer (CTA) system, covered further optimisation of the four-lobed swirl pipe, RANS-based modelling and Large Eddy Simulation of the swirl flows, and experimental validation of the CFD models through the measurements of pressure drop and wall shear stress in swirl flows with various Reynolds Number.

The computational and experimental work showed that the swirl pipe gives rise to a clear increase of mean wall shear stress to the downstream with its value and variation trend being dependent on swirl intensity. Moreover, it promotes a stronger fluctuation rate of wall shear stress to the downstream especially further downstream where swirl effect is less dominant.

As the increase of either the mean or the fluctuation rates of wall shear stress contributes to the improvement of CIP procedures in the closed processing systems. This thesis demonstrates that, with the ability to exert strengthened hydrodynamic force to the internal surface of the pipe downstream of it without increasing the overall flow velocity, the introduction of swirl pipe to the CIP procedures should improve the cleaning efficiency in the closed processing systems, consequently shortening the downtime for cleaning, and reducing the costs for chemicals and power energy.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: HALL, Philip
MILES, Nick
Keywords: Swirl pipe, Clean-In-Place, Wall shear stress, CFD, Large Eddy Simulation, hot-film Anemometry
Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
Faculties/Schools: UNNC Ningbo, China Campus > Faculty of Science and Engineering > Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Item ID: 33779
Depositing User: LI, Guozhen
Date Deposited: 22 Sep 2016 01:43
Last Modified: 15 Dec 2017 05:47
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/33779

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