An efficient 4 way coupling CFD–DEM model for dense gas–solid particulate flows simulations

The goal of this paper is to illustrate how some recent numerical developments enable the simulation of dense two-phase flows. A coupled Computational Fluid Dynamic and Discrete Element Method (CFD–DEM) approach has been designed for the simulation of 3D fluidized beds. DEM is employed to model the granular particle phase while classical CFD is used to simulate the fluid flow by solving the Volume Averaged Navier-Stokes (VANS) equations. A special emphasize is put on the implementation of the velocity–pressure algorithm in the context of two-phase flows. By taking into consideration all particle–particle, fluid–particle and particle–wall interactions, a complete 4 way coupling model has been derived. Three dimensional computations of a single bubble formation as well as of the bubbly regime have been conducted. The simulations point out the existence of complex structures, such as the worm-like shape one, similar to those that have already been described in the literature.