Enhanced fully resolved CFD-DEM-PBFM simulation of non-spherical particle–fluid interactions during hydraulic collection

Abstract

The interactions between non-spherical particles and fluids are commonplace in both nature and engineering applications, such as deep-sea nodules hydraulic collection. However, accurately simulating granular particles with non-spherical shapes and gaining a deep understanding of the intricate mechanisms involved in fluid–particle interactions still pose significant challenges. In this study, the superquadric model and the Gaussian curvature model are introduced in the Discrete Element Method to describe particle shapes and characterize their nonlinear contact behavior, respectively. Simultaneously, the Fictitious Domain-Immersed Boundary Method (FD-IBM) and the Particle Boundary Field Method (PBFM) are employed to enhance the stability and accuracy of numerical simulations. Building upon these advancements, an extended resolved CFD-DEM-PBFM method is developed. The validation and superiority of this resolved CFD-DEM-PBFM method are rigorously verified by comparing its results with the experimental and other research results across various scenarios, including non-spherical particle collision and packing, particle settling, drafting-kissing-tumbling test, and flow around non-spherical particles. Subsequently, the application of our novel model has been further conducted by a case study that simulates the hydraulic collection of nodules with different aspect ratios l/d. Concurrently, the influences of the nodule shapes on the hydraulic collection mechanism of the hydraulic collection are unveiled in terms of suction forces, trajectory of the particle, and flow field characteristics. Our findings demonstrate that the extended resolved CFD-DEM-PBFM method excels at accurately characterizing multiphase interaction mechanisms at both macro and micro scales, presenting considerable advantages in simulating fluid-particle systems involving non-spherical particles.