Motion of a spherical particle in a cylindrical channel using arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method

Abstract

A finite element particle transport model, consisting of Navier–Stokes and continuity equations defined in arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) kinematics, is employed to describe the motion of a rigid uncharged spherical particle in a cylindrical channel of uniform cross-section. The wall correction factors for the spherical particle moving with a fluid confined in an infinitely long cylindrical channel, as well as in finite length channels are presented. Two finite channel effects are considered, namely, motion of the particle at the entrance and exit of an open channel, and the motion of a particle toward the capped end of the channel. The numerical model demonstrates good agreement with many existing analytical results for infinite channels in the Stokes flow regime. Simple correlations for the hindrance factors are presented.