CFD modeling and its validation of non-Newtonian fluid flow in a microparticle production process using fan jet nozzles

In this paper, we use computational fluid dynamics for the design of microcapsules for drug release with biomedical purposes. The microcapsules are generated using a nozzle with a particular design where the air is injected in a chamber in such a way that focuses the liquid flow through the orifice breaking and dispersing the liquid solution. The typical solutions used for microcapsule generation are polymeric, in this work alginate-based, whose rheological behavior is non-Newtonian. The liquid is dispersed into liquid drops using air at high velocity. We record the process using high-speed video techniques and determine the mean drop size in order to validate the results obtained by the model. The predictions using CFD techniques are promising as a mean to speed up the particle design process.