Numerical modeling of bubble-particle interaction in a volume-of-fluid framework

TL;DR

This paper introduces a numerical method combining volume-of-fluid and Lagrangian frameworks to simulate bubble-particle interactions in gas-liquid-solid flows, validated against experimental data.

Contribution

The paper develops a novel numerical approach for modeling bubble-particle interactions, including collision, sliding, and attachment, within a combined Eulerian-Lagrangian framework.

Findings

Validated the model with experimental cases of bubble rise with particles.

Accurately predicted collision and attachment probabilities.

Observed particle behavior near bubbles with the new interaction model.

Abstract

A numerical method is presented to simulate gas-liquid-solid flows with bubble-particle interaction, including particle collision, sliding, and attachment. Gas-liquid flows are simulated in an Eulerian framework using a volume-of-fluid method. Particle motions are predicted in a Lagrangian framework. Algorithms that are used to detect collision and determine the sliding or attachment of the particle are developed. An effective bubble is introduced to model these bubble-particle interaction. The proposed numerical method is validated through experimental cases that entail the rising of a single bubble with particles. Collision and attachment probabilities obtained from the simulation are compared to model and experimental results based on bubble diameters, particle diameters, and contact angles. The particle trajectories near the bubble are presented to show differences with and without the proposed bubble-particle interaction model. The sliding and attachment of the colliding particle are observed using this model.