Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
3D printed nozzle for food extrusion
In this project you have the opportunity to help pdz and planted develop a 3D printed nozzle for food extrusion. The project involves 3D design of complex-shaped nozzles, fabrication with selective laser melting (SLM) and experimental testing of the nozzles regarding their cooling performance.
Extrusion of natural ingredients such as plant-based proteins from peas offers a huge potential to offer customers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to meat products such as animal-based chicken (Fig. 1). The production of such planted-based food products is accomplished using the classical process of extrusion (Fig. 2). During the extrusion process, the extruded proteins need to be cooled down. As a result, the design of the nozzles with the integrated conformal cooling system play an important role to control the overall process. The aim of this master thesis project is to help us develop a novel 3D printed nozzle with an optimized conformal cooling system (Fig. 3). This involves the design, fabrication, and testing of a nozzle with complex-shaped cooling channels using the design freedom of the additive manufacturing process of selective laser melting (SLM).
Extrusion of natural ingredients such as plant-based proteins from peas offers a huge potential to offer customers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to meat products such as animal-based chicken (Fig. 1). The production of such planted-based food products is accomplished using the classical process of extrusion (Fig. 2). During the extrusion process, the extruded proteins need to be cooled down. As a result, the design of the nozzles with the integrated conformal cooling system play an important role to control the overall process. The aim of this master thesis project is to help us develop a novel 3D printed nozzle with an optimized conformal cooling system (Fig. 3). This involves the design, fabrication, and testing of a nozzle with complex-shaped cooling channels using the design freedom of the additive manufacturing process of selective laser melting (SLM).
The work packages are as following:
- Get familiar with the extrusion process of plant-based proteins and define requirements regarding nozzle design and fabrication
- CAD design of nozzle with integrated conformal cooling channels using parametric design tool Rhino/Grasshopper to generate variants with different channel layout patterns (e.g. straight lines, curved lines, hexagons, ...)
- Analysis of cooling channel performance using CFD analysis in STAR-CCM+ to improve uniformity of flow distribution of cooling water and optimize heat transfer between cooling water and extruded material
- Fabrication of nozzle variants in steel using selective laser melting (SLM)
- Integration of thermocouple sensors in nozzle part to measure temperature at different locations and to validate simulation
- On-site testing of nozzle variants at project partner's location (planted foods)
- Documentation of results and production of a simple 1 min video on project
The work packages are as following:
- Get familiar with the extrusion process of plant-based proteins and define requirements regarding nozzle design and fabrication
- CAD design of nozzle with integrated conformal cooling channels using parametric design tool Rhino/Grasshopper to generate variants with different channel layout patterns (e.g. straight lines, curved lines, hexagons, ...)
- Analysis of cooling channel performance using CFD analysis in STAR-CCM+ to improve uniformity of flow distribution of cooling water and optimize heat transfer between cooling water and extruded material
- Fabrication of nozzle variants in steel using selective laser melting (SLM)
- Integration of thermocouple sensors in nozzle part to measure temperature at different locations and to validate simulation
- On-site testing of nozzle variants at project partner's location (planted foods)
- Documentation of results and production of a simple 1 min video on project
- High level of motivation and passion for the topic
- Experience with design of SLM parts
- Experience with CFD and heat analysis is a plus
- Desire to learn new tools such as Rhino/Grasshopper
- Experience with hardware-based testing of prototypes
Please send a short motivation, CV, list of grades, and other relevant experience (e.g. prior projects, additive manufacturing, fluid mechanics, CAD design, simulation, ...) to Manuel Biedermann at manuelbi@ethz.ch
Please send a short motivation, CV, list of grades, and other relevant experience (e.g. prior projects, additive manufacturing, fluid mechanics, CAD design, simulation, ...) to Manuel Biedermann at manuelbi@ethz.ch