Theoretical Analysis of Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Element Method Mathematical Model Solution Change With Varying Computational Cell Size

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette Volk ◽  
Urmila Ghia
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Grid Refinement ◽  
Computational Cell ◽  
Porosity Distribution

Successful verification and validation is crucial to build confidence in the application of coupled computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method (CFD–DEM). Model verification includes ensuring a mesh-independent solution, which poses a major difficulty in CFD–DEM due to the complicated relationship between solution and computational cell size. In this paper, we investigate the production of numerical error in the CFD–DEM coupling procedure with computational grid refinement. The porosity distribution output from simulations of fixed-particle beds is determined to be Gaussian, and the average and standard deviation of the representative distribution are reported against cell size. We find that the standard deviation of bed porosity increases exponentially as the cell size is reduced. The average drag calculated from each drag law is very sensitive to changes in the porosity standard deviation. When combined together, these effects result in an exponential change in expected drag force when the cell size is small relative to the particle diameter. The divided volume fraction method of porosity calculation is shown to be superior to the centered volume fraction (CVF) method. The sensitivity of five popular drag laws to changes in the porosity distribution is presented, and the Ergun and Beetstra drag laws are shown to be the least sensitive to changes in the cell size. A cell size greater than three average particle diameters is recommended to prevent errors in the simulation results. A grid refinement study (GRS) is used to quantify numerical error.

scholarly journals Unresolved CFD and DEM Coupled Solver for Particle-Laden Flow and Its Application to Single Particle Settlement

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 983
Author(s):  
Seongjin Song ◽  
Sunho Park
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Volume Expansion ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Water Tank ◽  
Element Method

In the present study, a single particle settlement was studied using a developed unresolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) coupling solver. The solver was implemented by coupling OpenFOAM, the open-source computational fluid dynamics libraries, with LIGGGHTS, the open-source discrete element method libraries. An averaging method using a kernel function was considered to decrease the grid dependency. For the drag model of a single particle, a revised volume fraction with a particle volume expansion coefficient was applied. Falling particles in a water tank were simulated and compared with the empirical correlation. A parametric study using several integrated added mass coefficients and volume expansion coefficients from low to high Reynolds numbers was carried out. The simulations which used the developed numerical methods showed significantly improved predictions of particle settlement.

Discrete element method–computational fluid dynamics analyses of flexible fibre fluidization

2021 ◽  
Vol 910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyang Jiang ◽  
Yu Guo ◽  
Zhaosheng Yu ◽  
Xia Hua ◽  
Jianzhong Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Dynamics Analyses ◽  
Element Method

Abstract

Modeling a Fluidized Bed Dryer through Computational Fluid Dynamics and Discrete Element Method

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Alexander Pérez Cortés ◽  
Yerko Rafael Aguilera Carvajal ◽  
Juan Pablo Vargas Norambuena ◽  
Javier Antonio Norambuena Vásquez ◽  
Juan Andrés Jarufe Troncoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Fluidized Bed Dryer ◽  
Element Method

Theoretical Analysis of CFD-DEM Mathematical Model Solution Change With Varying Computational Cell Size

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette Volk ◽  
Urmila Ghia
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Particle Diameter ◽  
Independent Solution ◽  
Model Verification ◽  
Computational Cell ◽  
Drag Laws ◽  
Fraction Method

Successful verification and validation is crucial to build confidence in the application of coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM). Model verification includes ensuring a mesh-independent solution, which poses a major difficulty in CFD-DEM due to the complicated solution relationship with computational cell size. In this paper, we investigate the theoretical relationship between the solution and computational cell size by tracing the effects of a change in cell size through the mathematical model. The porosity profile for simulations of fixed-particle beds is determined to be Gaussian, and the average and standard deviation of the representative distribution are reported against cell size. We find the standard deviation of bed porosity increases exponentially as the cell size is reduced, and the drag calculations are very sensitive to changes in the porosity standard deviation, resulting in an exponential change in expected drag when the cell size is small relative to the particle diameter. The divided volume fraction method of porosity calculation is shown to be superior to the centred volume fraction method, as it reduces the porosity standard deviation. The sensitivity of five popular drag laws to changes in the porosity profile is presented, and the Ergun and Beetstra drag laws are shown to be the least sensitive to changes in the cell size.

Transient Computational Fluid Dynamics/Discrete Element Method Simulation of Gas–Solid Flow in a Spouted Bed and Its Validation by High-Speed Imaging Experiment

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Lingjie Zhang ◽  
Weidong Shi ◽  
Ramesh Agarwal ◽  
Wei Li
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Bubble Shape ◽  
High Speed Imaging ◽  
Bed Height ◽  
Simulation Results

A coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD)/discrete element method (DEM) is used to simulate the gas–solid two-phase flow in a laboratory-scale spouted fluidized bed. Transient experimental results in the spouted fluidized bed are obtained in a special test rig using the high-speed imaging technique. The computational domain of the quasi-three-dimensional (3D) spouted fluidized bed is simulated using the commercial CFD flow solver ANSYS-fluent. Hydrodynamic flow field is computed by solving the incompressible continuity and Navier–Stokes equations, while the motion of the solid particles is modeled by the Newtonian equations of motion. Thus, an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach is used to couple the hydrodynamics with the particle dynamics. The bed height, bubble shape, and static pressure are compared between the simulation and the experiment. At the initial stage of fluidization, the simulation results are in a very good agreement with the experimental results; the bed height and the bubble shape are almost identical. However, the bubble diameter and the height of the bed are slightly smaller than in the experimental measurements near the stage of bubble breakup. The simulation results with their experimental validation demonstrate that the CFD/DEM coupled method can be successfully used to simulate the transient gas–solid flow behavior in a fluidized bed which is not possible to simulate accurately using the granular approach of purely Euler simulation. This work should help in gaining deeper insight into the spouted fluidized bed behavior to determine best practices for further modeling and design of the industrial scale fluidized beds.

scholarly journals A Novel Approach For Analyzing Mixing Quality In Solid-Liquid Stirred Tanks Via Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method And Electrical Resistance Tomography

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Tran
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Electrical Resistance ◽  
Particle Interaction ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Fluid Particle ◽  
Electrical Resistance Tomography ◽  
Mixing Quality ◽  
Solid Liquid

The mixing quality of a solid-liquid stirred tank operating in the turbulent regime was investigated, numerically and to an extent experimentally. Simulations were performed by coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The results were evaluated against experimental data obtained using Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT). This facilitated a novel and more rigorous assessment of CFD-DEM coupling – i.e. based on the spatial distribution of particle concentrations. Furthermore, a new mixing index definition was developed to quantify suspension quality to work in tandem with existing dispersion mixing indexes. This provides a more complete interpretation of mixing quality. In this work, it was found that the model underestimated suspension and dispersion due to model limitations associated with mesh size and fluid-particle interaction models. Furthermore, the predicted mixing quality was sensitive to changes in the drag model, including other fluid-particle interaction forces in simulations, and variations in certain particle properties

scholarly journals A Novel Approach For Analyzing Mixing Quality In Solid-Liquid Stirred Tanks Via Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method And Electrical Resistance Tomography

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Tran
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Discrete Element Method ◽  
Electrical Resistance ◽  
Particle Interaction ◽  
Discrete Element ◽  
Fluid Particle ◽  
Electrical Resistance Tomography ◽  
Mixing Quality ◽  
Solid Liquid

The mixing quality of a solid-liquid stirred tank operating in the turbulent regime was investigated, numerically and to an extent experimentally. Simulations were performed by coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The results were evaluated against experimental data obtained using Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT). This facilitated a novel and more rigorous assessment of CFD-DEM coupling – i.e. based on the spatial distribution of particle concentrations. Furthermore, a new mixing index definition was developed to quantify suspension quality to work in tandem with existing dispersion mixing indexes. This provides a more complete interpretation of mixing quality. In this work, it was found that the model underestimated suspension and dispersion due to model limitations associated with mesh size and fluid-particle interaction models. Furthermore, the predicted mixing quality was sensitive to changes in the drag model, including other fluid-particle interaction forces in simulations, and variations in certain particle properties

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