In this study, flow simulation was performed for an airflow type food crusher. The crusher system includes a raw material inlet through which a raw material, such as soybean, is introduced, a motor unit, a housing, a jig, a grinding area (upper casing), an area in which air is injected and distributed (lower casing), an area in which the raw material is discharged and circulated, and upper and lower impellers. In this study, the diameter of the outlet of the food crusher chamber was set to three levels (designated Types A, B, and C), and the rate of change in mass flow was analyzed. Then, the optimal crusher chamber outlet diameter was determined by comparing the temperature and pressure inside the chamber by using SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.
The mass flow rates were calculated for various diameters of the outlet; the mass flow entering and exiting the test volume was found to have little effect on the diameter of the outlet. The possibility of thermal damage to the food raw materials was examined using the simulations. All three models meet the research target of 40 °C or less; therefore, all the models are considered appropriate under the given conditions. Considering the mass flow, temperature, and pressure changes, Type C, which has a large mass flow, is considered to be a suitable model for processing capacity and temperature conditions.