Numerical model for the prediction of dilute, three-dimensional, turbulent fluid-particle flows, using a Lagrangian approach for particle tracking and a CVFEM for the carrier phase

Abstract

A numerical model for dilute, three-dimensional, turbulent, incompressible fluid-solid particle flows and its application to a demonstration problem are presented. An Eulerian description is used to model the flow of the fluid (carrier) phase, and the governing equations are solved using a control-volume finite element method (CVFEM). The motion of the solid (particulate) phase is simulated using a Lagrangian approach. An efficient algorithm is proposed for locating the particles in the finite element mesh. In the demonstration problem, which involves a particle-laden axisymmetric jet, a modified k-ε turbulence model is used to characterize the velocity and length scales of the turbulent flow of the fluid phase. The effect of turbulence on the particle trajectories is accounted for through a stochastic model. The effect of the particles on the fluid time-mean velocity and turbulence (two-way coupling) is also addressed. Comparisons between predictions and available experimental data for the demonstration problem are presented. Satisfactory agreement is obtained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.