Chapter 2 - Discrete particle model

Abstract

A discrete particle model plays a fundamental role in modeling gas-particle flows. In this chapter, besides the discrete element method – a discrete particle model, we introduce three additional discrete particle models: the generalized hard particle model (GHPM), soft sphere imbedded pseudo-hard particle model (SIPHPM), and the extended hard particle model – discrete element method coupled model (EHPM-DEM model), each has different features and advantages. GHPM has been developed aiming to solve the collision dynamics of rigid particles analytically. It is particularly suitable for dilute particle flow. On the contrary, SIPHPM is for pseudo-hard materials (only small deformations are allowed) of dense particle flows. EHPM-DEM is a hybrid model for complex or transiting particle flows, e.g. both dilute and dense particle flows, or intermittent dilute and dense particle flows. These three models are not limited to spherical particles but also suitable for particles of nonspherical shapes. They have potential to be extended for heat transfer modeling in particle flows.