CFD modeling to predict diffused date syrup yield and quality from sugar production process

• Sugar is produced from date by diffusion and/or bioconversion and/or separation.
• Creating a simulator of sugar diffusion process from date.
• The use of this simulator is mainly for scale up of sugar diffusion process from date.

In this study, diffusion process of sugar from date is modeled using a commercial computational fluids dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT 6.3.23 (Fluent Inc., USA). A two phases CFD model was developed using an Eulerian–Eulerian approach to calculate the date volume fraction transferred during time from date phase to water phase. The diffusion process was studied as function of three date varieties (Manakher, Lemsi and Alligue), three speeds of agitation (0, 50 and 100 rpm) and three date/water ratio (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75). The results revealed that, for mass transfer, the numerical data were in good agreement with the experimental data indicating the R2 of 0.84. Using a Lemsi date variety, the optimal condition of diffusion were 50 rpm and 0.75 for speed of agitation and date/water ratio respectively.