THE MULTIPHASE PARTICLE-IN-CELL (MP-PIC) METHOD FOR DENSE PARTICULATEFLOWS

A multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method has been developed. This numerical technique draws upon the best of Eulerian/Eulerian continuu m models and Eulerian/Lagrangian discrete models. The MP-PIC method us es an accurate mapping from Lagrangian particles to and from a computa tional grid. While on the grid, continuum derivative terms that treat the particle phase as a fluid are readily evaluated and then mapped ba ck to individual particles. The result of this procedure is a computat ional technique for multiphase Rows that can handle particulate loadin g ranging from dense to dilute, a distribution of particle sizes and a range of particle materials. The dense particulate model represents s eparated flows of particles and includes drag exerted by a gas phase, inter-particle stresses, particle viscous stresses and gas pressure gr adients. Six problems are presented to demonstrate the MP-PIC method. This MP-PIC method has important applications in fluidized beds (combu stion, catalytic cracking), sedimentation, separation and many other g ranular flows.