Numerical approaches for motion of dispersed particles, droplets and bubbles

Recent advances in computational approaches for two-phase flow motion of so lid particles, liquid particles, and gas bubbles are reviewed in the contex t of engineering calculations, The surrounding fluid is assumed to behave i n a continuum and the dispersed-fluid is assumed to be dilute such that par ticle-particle interactions and two-way coupling effects can be ignored. Th e key process considered herein is momentum transfer to the particles with emphasis on turbulent diffusion. Computational approaches are classified by their particular treatment of the continuous-phase (surrounding liquid or gas) and of the dispersed-phase (solid particles, droplets, or bubbles). Th e most appropriate point-volume descriptions for interphase transfer of mom entum are described based on current research and experimental data. Modern Lagrangian and Eulerian treatments of the dispersed-phase motion are then considered for predicting a variety of particle-fluid physical phenomenon, Finally, the "tools" (computational techniques) are summarized based on the "job" (prediction of a particular set of dispersed-phase properties) and t he "cost" (required computational resources). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.