CFD-DEM simulation of fluidization of multi sphere-modeled corn particles

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with a three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) was applied to investigate the flow of corn-shaped particles in a cylindrical fluidized bed. The fluid phase was simulated with a turbulent model, and particle movement was simulated by the DEM. The particle motion coupled with the volume-averaged conservation of mass, momentum, and energy equations over a discretized domain. The corn-shaped particles were constructed as multi spheres (i.e., 4, 6, and 8 spherical elements). The particle-particle and particle-wall interactions were modeled using the Hertz-Mindlin no-slip contact model. The research was focused on the minimum velocity of fluidization (U mf) and pressure drop (ΔP) of the corn particles with three different shapes. Additionally, the influence of the velocity of the fluid and particle shape on heat transfer was investigated. The simulation results showed that U mf increases with an increasing number and arrangement of spherical elements. As the number of particles increases, U mf and ΔP max increase as well. The minimum fluid velocity of 2 U mf is sufficient for the corn kernels to be thoroughly mixed.