Simulation and experimental research on the flow inside a whirlpool separator

• We model unsteady flows in a cycling vat using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
• We carry out experimental research using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).
• The model and the research lead to comprehending the flow phenomena in a whirlpool.
• The CFD model, verified with PIV, may turn out to be helpful for designers of such separators.

The whirlpool settling vat is the prevalent separator in brewing, employed to remove hot trub in the process of wort boiling. During this process, the so-called tea leaf effect is present, i.e. the accumulation of the separated trub into a cone shape in the centre of the container. This phenomenon is the result of rotational flow of the separated mixture. This study presents simulation analysis and experimental research on the subject of flow in a whirlpool cycling vat. The creation process for a simulation model is presented, as well as its analysis employing CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), along with verification research using PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry). The results obtained by means of a computational simulation have been compared to the output of PIV. A way to implement scale-model research results in real-world objects, using dimensionless numbers, has been suggested.