“Simulations apparently gave reliable results. It is nice to know that it’s definitely worthwhile to use simulations also in the future,” says Metso Outotec’s Engineering Manager Jukka-Pekka Rantanen.
Metso Outotec is a front runner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the minerals processing, aggregates and metals refining industries globally. Responsibility is one of the company’s core values. Accordingly, Metso Outotec continually develops the company products and services to meet future needs.
Emission limits are applied to Metso Outotec’s stone crushers. With the help of Huld’s CFD analysis experts, Metso Outotec stone crushers were updated to meet the renewed European emission standards. Simultaneously, the update rendered also bigger changes in the surrounding constructions such as the cooling system. The goal was to find a cost-effective way of updating the products according to the requirements, while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of both product development and manufacturing.
The cooling system was renewed as a part of the development process. Nevertheless, tests showed that the cooling capacity was insufficient. The reason was identified as flow irregularities in the cooling cell input. Consequently, it was evident that improving the cooling capacity was vital to the product’s success. Without improvements, the product market area would be significantly reduced. This would have a great impact on the project’s payback period. The objective was to achieve a better cooling effect without having to implement larger structural changes that would make the product less cost-effective.
Thanks to flow analysis, Huld’s experts were able to find a better fan model, as well as to optimize its placement in the cooling system. Tests carried out with this new fan confirmed what the simulations predicted, and the cooling system was able to meet all given requirements without any extensive modifications in the rest of the construction. Metso Outotec is more than satisfied with the end results. According to them, CFD analysis could definitely be utilized also in the future.
“Simulations apparently gave reliable results. It is nice to know that it’s definitely worthwhile to use simulations also in the future,” says Metso Outotec’s Engineering Manager Jukka-Pekka Rantanen.
Photos: Metso:Outotec