Research of the Annular Gap Parameters of the Jet-Slot Milk Homogenizer
摘要
Homogenization is one of the most energy-consuming processes in the milk processing industry. It is possible to solve an important problem of mechanical engineering - to ensure a decrease in specific energy consumption by introducing a slot-type jet milk homogenizer. These indicators are most influenced by the parameters of the annular gap, the optimal values of which have not yet been determined. The principle of its operation involves the separate feeding of cream and ensures the creation of the maximum difference between the speeds of skimmed milk and cream. Analytical studies were carried out by modeling parameters in ANSYS. In the course of research, it has been established that in order to ensure the necessary hydrodynamic conditions for the destruction of fat globules of milk, the speed of feeding cream should be 5–8 times lower than the speed of the flow of skimmed milk, which is a necessary condition for increasing the energy efficiency of dispersion. It has been investigated that to reduce dispersion energy costs, the inner section of the confusor at the point of greatest narrowing should have a conoidal profile, and its diameter should be within 3–4 mm. The results of modeling the width of the annular gap indicate that to increase the energy efficiency of dispersion, the rational values of the parameter should be about 0.8 mm, which allows ensuring the required performance of the homogenizer and avoiding obliteration of the annular gap. The results of experimental studies of dairy products after processing in the developed homogenizer show that the rational values of the width of the annular gap should be in the range of 0.5–0.9 mm. The proposed homogenizer ensures an increase in the energy efficiency of 3–5 times in the process and meets the requirements of modern dairy processing technologies.