Keynote: Using CFD Simulation for Efficient Rubber Production Processes

In this keynote talk from the COMSOL Conference 2024 Florence, Saeid Kheirandish of ARLANXEO discusses rubber production processes and the advantages of using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to understand the underlying processes, reduce the need for full-scale plant trials, and streamlining energy consumption of related equipment.

Kheirandish begins with a brief explanation of ARLANXEO's rubber manufacturing process. He then covers challenges in production and how CFD simulation can eliminate certain steps and enable more precise polymer design. Additionally, he provides an overview of melts and compounds used in capillary rheometry and how simulation can be used to obtain different parameters. Finally, Kheirandish provides three simulation examples: polymer modification in a mixing tank, extruder assemblies, and die swell and contraction flow. He discusses how he used the COMSOL Multiphysics^® software to plot the power characteristics and local velocity magnitude and find solutions.

Saeid Kheirandish obtained a PhD in polymer rheology from the Technical University of Berlin. Since 2012, he has been serving as a principal scientist at ARLANXEO Deutschland GmbH in Dormagen, conducting research on the rheology and flow of rubber polymers at various stages of production as well as on the compounding and processing of highly filled rubber.