CFD Modelling and Experimental Validation of Emulsification Processes - Unilever sponsored CASE Award PhD Studentship

Academic supervisors: Dr Thomas Rodgers and Dr Claudio Fonte, The University of Manchester
Industrial supervisor: Dr Jujar Panesar, Unilever

The problem:

This exciting joint project between the University of Manchester and Unilever will investigate mixing inside stirred tanks through a combination of predictive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and simulation validation via experimental methods.

Oil in water emulsions are ubiquitous in consumer products. Emulsions are found in everyday consumer goods such as deodorants and ice creams. The emulsions are typically shear thinning non-Newtonian liquids. Oil droplet size distributions inside emulsions has a significant effect on emulsion stability and as well as on viscosity. Therefore, the ability to predict these droplet size distributions is highly desirable.

Many consumer goods involving oil in water emulsions are produced inside stirred tanks, where the ingredients are mixed to form an emulsion. The oil droplet sizes inside the emulsions are a function of mixing times, turbulent eddy dissipation rates, the type of stirred tank used, and other key variables.

The requirement:

The project requirement is to use CFD to perform simulations of oil in water emulsions as they are formed inside stirred tanks, and provide predictions of the oil droplet size distributions. A key part of the project will be to validate the CFD predictions against experimental data, where the data will be from power measurements and electrical tomography methods. The successful candidate will undertake the CFD simulations and experimental work.

The CFD simulations will be multiphase, involving population balance modelling coupled with breakup and coalescence kernels. CFD and experimental methods have been used previously with success to predict oil size distributions in high pressure homogenizers and Silverson high shear devices. Therefore, there is confidence that those models can be generalised to simulate oil droplet size distributions inside stirred tanks.

Benefits to student:

The student will benefit by undertaking an industrially relevant PhD, supported by Unilever, a leading consumer goods company. The student will receive close support from the academic and the industrial advisers. Continuing professional development is actively encouraged, such as charting progress towards chartered engineer (CEng) status or equivalent. There will be opportunities to attend renowned conferences (UK and overseas), and publish novel work in high impact factor journals.

Further Notes:

Strong applied numeracy skills are required as the project will involve understanding numerical models described by equations. Prior use of CFD and/or experimental methods is not required, but is desirable.

Please apply by contacting Dr Thomas Rodgers by supplying a copy of your CV, and a short covering letter outlining your motivations, suitability and experience.