Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation for Predicting Pressure and Velocity Variations at Dry and Two-Phase States in Spinning Cone Column

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of Chemical Engineering, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Spinning cone distillation column (SCC) is a gas-liquid contacting instrument whose function is in the food processing industries. This technology serves as a complementary approach to conventional packed and plate column distillation, particularly in applications requiring high tolerance to solid contaminants and minimal thermal impact on processed materials. In this research, CFD simulations were conducted using pressure and velocity distributions in a pilot-scale SCC, both in the presence of gas and in the absence of liquid flow (dry column) and in the presence of both gas and liquid (two-phase column). The innovation of this research is the results of the new geometry in the simulation. At the present work, the modeling of four fixed cones and three spinning cones, which is between them, has been performed and the suction effect of the spinning cones at the top and bottom of the tower is also taken into account. This geometry led to more accurate results than the experimental results. An increase in gas flow rate may result in higher pressure drops in both dry and two-phase conditions. By calculating logarithm, the line slope of CFD and experimental data will obtain which is equal to 1.835 and 1.847 respectively. These amounts match with the curve slope of pressure drop regarding passed gas flow velocity from orifice (1.8-2).  The simulation results can be used to predict industrial applications of the SCC.

Keywords

References

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Chemical Process Design
Volume 5, Issue 1
June 2026
Pages 42-53

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