Particle‐scale modelling of gas–solid flow in fluidisation

Hydrodynamic interaction is a sensitive process for gravity concentration equipment. Because of the nonlinearity and complexity of interaction dynamics due the solid particles and water, reliable mathematical models are needed to perform plant width design (PWD)-oriented tasks. To this end, in this paper we present a study of particle motion in a water oscillating flow subjected to a sinusoidal profile on a jig device, which is a high yield and high recovery gravimetric concentrator device widely used in minerals processing. A mathematical Eulerian-Lagrangian model (ELM) is used where fluid motion is calculated by solving the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations by a widely used numerical procedure call Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations algorithm (SIMPLE). The motion of individual particles is obtained by a forces balance applying the Newton’s second law of motion through the action of forces imposed by the water and gravity. Liquid-solid interactions forces are calculated by the mathematical Eulerian-Lagrangian model extended to a particle suspension having a wide size and density distribution. The calculation and comparison of Basset, pressure gradient and virtual mass forces with other forces (drag and buoyancy) acting on particle trajectories in water oscillating flows were carried out under turbulent regimen flow. It was found that Basset, pressure gradient and virtual mass forces have a significant effect on the particle’s trajectories affecting their subsequent stratification. Furthermore, the conditions under which these forces can be neglected in the jig’s hydrodynamic model were studied. The study demonstrates significant differences in the particle trajectories for various size and density distribution.

A comparison of two-fluid model, dense discrete particle model and CFD-DEM method for modeling impinging gas–solid flows

Structure-dependent drag in gas–solid flows studied with direct numerical simulation

Dark matter could meet its nemesis on Earth

Introduction. One of the high points of elementary calculus is the derivation of Kepler's empirically deduced laws of planetary motion from Newton's Law of Gravity and his second law of motion. However, the standard treatment of the subject in calculus books is flawed for at least three reasons that I think are important. First, Newton's Laws are used to derive a differential equation for the displacement vector from the Sun to a planet; say the Earth. Then it is shown that the displacement vector lies in a plane, and if the base point is translated to the origin, the endpoint traces out an ellipse. This is said to confirm Kepler's first law, that the planets orbit the sun in an elliptical path, with the sun at one focus. However, the alert student may notice that the identical argument for the displacement vector in the opposite direction would show that the Sun orbits the Earth in an ellipse, which, it turns out, is very close to a circle with the Earth at the center. That would seem to provide aid and comfort to the Church's rejection of Galileo's claim that his heliocentric view had more validity than their geocentric one. Second, by placing the sun at the origin, the impression is given that either the sun is fixed, or else, that one may choose coordinates attached to a moving body, inertial or not. However, Newton's equations in their usual form hold precisely in inertial coordinates. Furthermore, it is an immediate consequence of Newton's Laws that the center of gravity of the two bodies can serve as the origin of an inertial coordinate system. One then finds that both the Earth and the Sun describe elliptical paths with a focus at the center of gravity of the pair. Third, by considering only the displacement vector, the treatment misses an opportunity to present one of the greatest recent triumphs of Newton's derivation of Kepler's Laws: the discovery of extrasolar planets during the past decade, none of which has been observed directly, but whose existence and orbital parameters have been deduced by detecting and analyzing the motion of the stars that they orbit. Two other considerations make the correct way of treating the subject particularly desirable. First, the current treatment for the displacement vector could be left as is, and only a little algebra is needed to show that the same vector referred to the center of gravity is a constant scalar multiple of the one referred to the sun. Second, it connects with an exciting area of current research in astronomy where the methods of elementary calculus have direct application. The purpose of this note is to spell out the slight modifications to the standard treatment of Kepler's Laws that are needed to obtain the additional and accurate information, and to provide a user's guide to the website http://exoplanets.org where a list of all the extrasolar planets discovered so far is maintained and constantly updated. The Basic Equations. Let r(t) be a (3-dimensional) vector function of the parameter t, and suppose that r(t) satisfies the differential equation

On the basis of a two-equation turbulence model of single-phase flows, two-fluid turbulence models, namely, the k–e–kp–ep model and the k–e–kp model are developed to describe turbulent gas-solid two-phase flows. Governing equations for the turbulent kinetic energy and the kinetic energy dissipation rate of the particulate phase are derived from their momentum equations, and unknown terms at two-equation closure level are modeled. The developed models show that the turbulence intensity of the particulate phase is often larger than that of the gaseous phase in the gas-solid flow in a 90° bend, which is quite in accordance with the experimental results. The conventional k–e–Ap model using a k–e turbulence model for the carrier fluid and Tchen-Hinze’s formula for the eddy viscosity of the particulate phase, however, shows that the particulate turbulence intensity is always smaller than that of the gaseous phase. Therefore, the two-phase turbulence models developed here are superior to the conventional turbulence model. The turbulence models are also applied to predict the effect of particles on gaseous phase turbulence in the gas-solid flow in a vertical pipe. The predicted results are favorably compared with the available experimental data.

In recent years, with the advancement in computation power, computer-aided simulation and modeling are at the forefront of food process engineering research. The discrete element method (DEM), a proven numerical method, is commonly used to study particulate or granular systems. In DEM, the motion of distinct granules is defined by Newton's second law of motion. DEM captures the dual nature of granular media that behaves both like solid and liquid. This chapter discusses the basics of DEM, governing equation, contact models, DEM input parameters, and their application in modeling grain post-harvest processes.

Comprehensive investigation and comparison of TFM, DenseDPM and CFD-DEM for dense fluidized beds

Nonlinear drag force has been a research frontier in complex gas-solid systems. The literature has reported that the commonly-used drag correlations often overestimate drag force and, thus, cause unrealistic homogeneous flow structures in gas-solid fluidized beds of fine particles. For solving this problem, the structure-dependent drag model, derived from energy-minimization multi-scale approach, is used in discrete simulations of fluid catalytic cracking particles in a small riser. The gas phase is dealt with by computational fluid dynamics. Particles are considered as a discrete phase and described by Newton’s second law of motion. Gas-particle phases are coupled according to Newton’s third law of motion. Simulations show that use of structure-dependent drag model results in drag reduction, the effect of which is not so apparent as that in simulations of the two fluid model. The particle clustering tendency, however, is more distinct and leads to more heterogeneous flow structures in riser flow with a much greater amplitude of outlet solid flux fluctuations. Moreover, the behaviors of particle and gas back-mixing can be captured in the present simulations, which was supported by past simulations and experimental data. The simulation time resolution is discussed. The spring constant can be artificially brought down for safe setting of larger time step when modelling the collision process between fine particles with a higher calculation load. To appropriately mimic the continuous decay of van der Waals force may, however, need a much smaller time step. There is also an obvious effect of space resolution on simulations. When using a grid size smaller than 3 times the particle diameter, the simulated clusters turn extraordinarily large, and the effect of gas-solid back-mixing turns insignificant.

CFD simulation of smooth and T-abrupt exits in circulating fluidized bed risers

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Two-dimensional nonlinear dynamics of an axially moving viscoelastic beam with time-dependent axial speed

Intramolecular (13)C kinetic isotope effects were determined for the dimerization of methacrolein. Trajectory studies accurately predict the isotope effects and support an origin in Newton's second law of motion, with no involvement of zero-point energy or transition state recrossing. Atomic motion reaction coordinate diagrams are introduced as a way to qualitatively understand the selectivity.

Bubble size distributions (BSDs) near a reference electrode (RE) in aqueous glycerol solutions of an electrolyte NaCl have been investigated under various gas superficial velocities (Us). BSD and voltage reading of the solution were measured by using a high-speed digital camera and a pH/voltage meter, respectively. The results show that bubble size (b) increases with liquid viscosity (μc) and Us. Self-similarity is seen and can be described by the log-normal form of the continuous number frequency distribution. The result shows that b controls the voltage reading in each solution. As b increases, the voltage increases because of gas bubbles interrupting their electrolyte paths in the solutions. An analysis of bubble rising velocity reveals that Stokes' Law should be used cautiously to describe the system. The fundamental equation for bubble formation was developed via Newton's second law of motion and shown to be the function of three dimensionless groupsWeber number, Bond number, and Capillary number. Af...

The equation F = ma, shorthand for Newtion's second law of motion, is the 1 + 1 = 2 of classical mechanics. The equation seems obvious and straightforward. It appears simply to translate an ordinary experience into measurable terms: push something and it moves.