Comparison between the sliding mesh model and the momentum source model for the numerical simulation of the working principle of mixing tanks

Abstract

In this paper the aims to present a comparison between two numerical models capable of simulating the working principle of mixing tanks, which are used in several chemical industries, among them, for the production of biodiesel. The objective is to make a comparison between the results obtained with these models and the results found in the literature, in order to show the predictive capacity of the models developed and the computational effort of each of them. The numerical simulations were performed using FLUENT software, based on the Finite Volume Method (FVM). The comparison of the results between the present paper and the data found in the literature was performed from the prediction of the velocity fields monitored in the flow. In general, a good agreement was found between the results of the present paper and the literature results, in relation to the flow behavior, at certain points that were analyzed inside the tank. It was also certified a large difference in time and computational effort between the two numerical models.