Computational fluid design and structural simulation of a corrosion-resistant high-pressure curing vessel for continuous salted egg processing

Abstract

The design of a rapid, hygienic curing vessel for continuous salted-egg production requires a system that can maintain high pressure, uniform thermal flow, minimal internal flow, and long-term corrosion resistance to highly saline and acidic environments. This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA) and thermal modelling to evaluate a curing vessel with a capacity of 15,360-egg and is made up of AISI 1020 cold-rolled steel Static structural analysis under operating conditions of 404 kPa and 60°C has achieved a maximum von Mises stress of 2.207×10⁸ N/m and a Factor of Safety of ≈1.59 with material yield strength of 3.5×10⁸ N/m². CFD simulations using the properties of brine showed a bulk average velocity of ~0.01 m/s, near-zero mass flow rate (–0.0002 kg/s), and pressure variation below 1 kPa, which confirms a quiescent and diffusion-dominated environment that is essential for uniform salt penetration. Thermal analysis demonstrated temperature uniformity within ±1°C across the 293–353 K. To address the effect of long- term corrosion risks, the vessel design used a food-grade thermoset epoxy coating with a PVDF liner. The simulations achieved a thermally stable and corrosion-resistant curing vessel, which is suitable for rapid, continuous salted-egg processing.