SUPR
CFD simulation of rotary bell paint applicators
Dnr:

NAISS 2025/22-590

Type:

NAISS Small Compute

Principal Investigator:

Andreas Mark

Affiliation:

Fraunhofer Chalmers Research Centre (FCC)

Start Date:

2025-04-07

End Date:

2026-05-01

Primary Classification:

20306: Fluid Mechanics

Webpage:

Allocation

Abstract

We will perform high-fidelity simulations of the electrostatic spray transfer process in high-speed rotary bell sprayers using a 3D Eulerian-Lagrangian framework. The simulations will be carried out in OpenFOAM, incorporating complex multiphysics phenomena including spray atomization, compressible airflow, particle tracking, and electrostatic interactions. Accurate turbulence modeling will be crucial to compute the compressible flow field, and different modeling options will be explored. This setup allows us to analyze the interaction between airflow and droplet motion in detail, and provide insights into flow features such as the recirculation zone, toroidal vortex formation and overspray.