numerical investigation of a scraped surface heat exchanger (SSHE) was undertaken using the commercial CFD code FLUENT to characterize the shear rates for Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids. Simulations are carried out in standard geometries of SSHE. The electrochemical method was first employed to achieve experimental measurements of the shear rates. A two-dimensional model was created to perform the simulation, keeping the dimensions and flow parameters of the experiment. Because of the symmetry of the geometry, a bidimensional resolution of the continuity and momentum equations was conducted. A hybrid mesh was retained with a grid refinement between the tip of the blades and stator where high shear rates occur. A single reference frame approach was then applied to obtain the laminar steady-state flow induced by the rotation of blades in the geometry. A grid refinement in the zone localized between the tip of the blades and the stator is used. A comparison of predictions with experimental measurements was carried out, showing relative agreement between shear rates (S-max) predicted and measured for three fluids (HV45, CMC and guar gum). The little differences observed were principally explained by the 2D simulation which neglects Taylor vortices, when Taylor number (Ta-g) exceeds a critical value. In the case of HV45, rotating velocity can influence the scraper angle position due to the floating blade. This can induce a change in the gap between the tip of the blade and stator assembly (from 90 to 130 mu m) that was investigated here. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.