Self-organizing single-line particle trains with differently shaped particles in a channel flow

Abstract

The inertial migration of differently shaped rectangular particles and elliptical particles in a channel flow and the self-organization of single-line particle trains are studied using the lattice Boltzmann method. The effects of particle shape, particle aspect ratio (α), Reynolds number (Re), blockage ratio (k), and particle concentration (Φ) on self-organizing single-line particle trains are explored. The results show that a single-line particle train is dynamically formed, with circular particle trains having a more pronounced dynamic process than rectangular and elliptical particle train. The inclination of height (IH) for the particles in the train is the main reason for the dynamic formation of a single-line particle train. Due to the changes of orientation angle under different flow conditions, the rectangular particle trains always have a larger IH and smaller interparticle spacing than the elliptical particle trains when the train is just formed. The effect of α on the spacing of elliptical particle trains is more sensitive than other shapes. Rectangular particles and elliptical particles with large Φ and Re and small k are prone to self-organize the single-line particle trains with stable spacing for a long travel distance. With increasing Φ, Re, and k, IH increases and the interparticle spacing decreases.