PIV measurements and CFD simulations of the particle-scale flow distribution in a packed bed

Abstract

A comparison of the particle-scale PIV measurements with the corresponding particle-resolved CFD simulations in the turbulent flow regime using SST k-ω model is performed. A cylindrical packed bed containing spherical particles with the tube-to-particle diameter ratio of ∼4.3 operating at Rebed in the range of 1100–6600 was considered. The measured and predicted distribution of the first-order (Vx and Vy) and second-order (vorticity and strain rate) mean velocity quantities showed a reasonable agreement, which improved with the increase in the Rebed. The observed deviations were caused by the differences in the geometry (particle position and upstream packing condition) used in the CFD model compared to the measurements. On the other hand, the turbulent quantities (k and ε) were under-predicted in the simulations. However, for the ε, the agreement with the measurements was found to be better at higher Rebed compared to that of the k illustrating the influence of the turbulence model on the predictions. From the results, it can be inferred that the SST k-ω turbulence model appears to be more suitable for the high-Re flows. The present work helps to establish a methodology to validate the particle-resolved CFD simulations in the turbulent flow regime.