Simulation of particle mixing in turbulent channel flow due to intrinsic fluid velocity fluctuation

TL;DR

This paper models particle mixing in turbulent channel flow using a combined DEM and stochastic process approach, revealing how mixing rates depend on Reynolds number and flow conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel simulation method combining DEM with stochastic modeling to analyze particle mixing in turbulent flows.

Findings

Mixing zone increases linearly with pipe length.

Below R_c ≈ 300, mixing rate depends on Reynolds number.

Above R_c, mixing rate remains nearly constant.

Abstract

We combine a DEM simulation with a stochastic process to model the movement of spherical particles in a turbulent channel flow. With this model we investigate the mixing properties of two species of particles flowing through the channel. We find a linear increase of the mixing zone with the length of the pipe. Flows at different Reynolds number are studied. Below a critical Reynolds number at the Taylor microscale of around $R_{c} \approx 300$ the mixing rate is strongly dependent on the Reynolds number. Above $R_{c}$ the mixing rate stays nearly constant.