Effects of the variation of mass loading and particle density in gas–solid particle flow in pipes

The method of two dimensional Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations has been employed for the simulation of turbulent particulate flow. This approach was fitted with appropriate closure equations that take into account all the pertinent forces and effects on the solid particles, such as: particle–turbulence interactions; turbulence modulation; particle–particle interactions; particle–wall interactions; gravitation, viscous drag and lift forces. The flow domain in all cases was a cylindrical pipe and the computations were carried for upward pipe flow. The finite volume technique was used for the numerical solution of the governing and closure equations. The results show the effect of loading and particle density on the profiles of the velocity, the turbulence intensity and the solids concentration.

Graphical abstractThe method of Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations has been employed for the simulation of turbulent particulate flow. This approach was fitted with appropriate closure equations for all the pertinent forces and effects on the solid particles, such as: particle–turbulence interactions; turbulence modulation; particle–particle interactions; particle–wall interactions; gravitation, viscous drag and lift forces. The results show the effect of loading and particle density on the profiles of the velocity, the turbulence intensity and the solids concentration.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideProfiles of the turbulence intensity of air carrying solids corresponding to mixture A and mixture B. The experimental data are from Tsuji et al. [Y. Tsuji, Y. Morikawa and H. Shiomi, LDV measurements of an air–solid two-phase flow in a vertical pipe. J. Fluid Mech., 139 (1984) 417–434].