Particle tracking in rotating channel flow

Abstract

The study deals with the numerical simulation of dilute solid-fluid flow in a two-dimensional straight rotating channel using Lagrangian particle tracking method. The developing carrier-phase flow, assumed to be steady in the mean, is computed using Galerkin finite element method. A rotation-modified kƐ model is used to account for the effect of turbulence on the mean flow. One-way coupling is assumed, i.e., the carrier-phase flow affects the particle motion, but not vice-versa. Model coefficients of restitution in the normal and tangential directions are used. The particle equations of motion include drag, pressure, centrifugal, Coriolis, virtual mass, and friction (in case the particle slides along the wall) forces. Mesh refinement and comparison with published numerical results are used to validate the code. Effects of such operating parameters as rotation rate, particle size, specific gravity and coefficients of restitution are discussed.