Discrete element simulation of particle flow in arbitrarily complex geometries

Conventional simulations of dense particle flows in complex geometries usually involve the use of glued particles to approximate geometric surface. This study is concerned with the development of a robust and accurate algorithm for detecting the interaction between a spherical particle and an arbitrarily complex geometric surface in the framework of soft-sphere discrete element model (DEM) without introducing any assumptions. Numerical experiments specially designed to validate the algorithm shows that the new algorithm can accurately predict the contact state of a particle with a complex geometric surface. Based on the proposed algorithm, a new solver for simulation of dense particle flows is developed and implemented into an open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package OpenFOAM. The solver is firstly employed to simulate hydrodynamics in a bubble fluidized bed. Numerical results show that a 3D simulation can predict the bubble size better than a 2D simulation. Subsequently, gas-solid hydrodynamics in an immersed tube fluidized bed is simulated. Results show that bubble coalescence and breakup behavior around the immersed tubes are well captured by the numerical model. In addition, seven different particle flow patterns around the immersed tubes are identified based on the numerical results obtained. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.