A CFD-DEM code which is implemented within the CFD code.
fluidized bed
Combination of a very primitive DEM code with a VOF solver.
apples in a pool
Note: This is just a proof of concept!
floatation
Three-phase interaction is an important phenomena in many industrial and research application, varying from resource industry to energy production and even food and medical applications. The way solids or small droplets interact is however not well enough understood. We develop a three-phase model that at this stage handles multiple bubbles and multiple particles interacting. The solver for the gas-liquid field is a VOF based solver. Particle-particle interaction is modeled using a soft-sphere collision model, while particle-interface interaction is treated by a new model under development.
Interaction of solid particles with gas-liquid interface
Above video depicts the results of an example case for the development of the three-phase model. A solid quartz particle of 100 micron diameter collides with a 1 cm air bubble rising in water. The particle collides with the bubble, attaches to it, and is dragged to the surface in the skirt of the bubble. This model shows promising first results and is still under fundamental development. This video only serves as proof of concept and better bubble-particle dynamics are to be added in the near future.
This work on particle-interface interaction modeling is done in cooperation with:
Gijsbert Wierink
Research Unit of Mechanical Process Technology and Recycling
Aalto University School of Science and Technology
Espoo, Finland
E-mail: gijsbert.wierink@optimaflow.com