Numerical analysis of sedimentation of a 2D or 3D cold particle

Particle transport and heat transfer between particles and ambient fluid are observed in many industrial and natural processes (metal forming, heat storage, etc.). To optimize the manufacturing processes, it is necessary to understand the relationships between global flow, particle transport and heat transfer. The present work deals with the numerical simulation of a cold particle falling (sedimentation) in a hot fluid (of the same material). For a single cold particle in a hot fluid with a low Prandtl number, the results prove that the velocity field is influenced by the thermal behaviour, as natural convection can increase or decrease Archimedes’ forces. The aim is to link the fluid and particles’ properties to the flow and heat transfer to predict occurrence or disappearance of aggregates, numerical methods overcoming limitations previously published.