(90a) Validation Studies of Open-Source MFIX-DEM Software for Gas-Solids Flows

With rapid advancements in computer hardware and numerical algorithms, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been increasingly employed as a useful tool to investigate the complex hydrodynamics in multiphase flows. During the development of CFD models, it is important to perform careful and comprehensive verification and validation studies prior to their application. A verification and validation effort of the open-source MFIX-DEM software [1], which can be used for simulating the gas-solids flow using an Eulerian reference frame for the continuum fluid and a Lagrangian discrete framework (Discrete Element Method) for the particles, has been made at National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Extensive verification of MFIX-DEM has been reported in which an acceptable level of confidence in the model implementation has been achieved [2]. In this paper, detailed validation studies on MFIX-DEM are presented. A series of test cases covering a broad range of applications of gas-solid flows were simulated including random particle packing [3], particle repose angle [4], bubbling fluidized bed [5], spouted bed [6], and segregation (differing in diameter) of bidisperse particle system [3]. The numerical results are compared with available experimental data and empirical correlations to validate the MFIX-DEM code.

[1] Garg, R., Galvin, J., Li, T., Pannala, S., 2010. Documentation of open-source MFIX-DEM software for gas-solids flows. https://mfix.netl.doe.gov/documentation/dem_doc_2010.

[2] Garg, R., Galvin, J., Li, T., Pannala, S., 2010. Verification studies of open-source MFIX-DEM software for gas-solids flows, Powder Technology, under review.

[3] Goldschmidt, M.J.V., Link, J.M., Mellema, S. Kuipers, J.A.M., 2003, Digital image analysis measurements of bed expansion and segregation dynamics in dense gas-fluidized beds, Powder Technology, 138:135-159.

[4] Li, Y., Xu, Y., Thornton C., 2005, A comparison of discrete element simulations and experiments for ?sandpiles' composed of spherical particles, Powder Technology, 160:219-228

[5] Link, J.M., Deen, N.G., Kuipers, J.A.M., Fan, X., Ingram, A., Parker, D.J., Wood, J., Serville, J.P.K., 2008, PEPT and discrete particle simulation study of spout-fluid bed regimes, AIChE Journal, 54:1189-1202.

[6] Muller, C.R., Scott, S.A., Holland, D.J., Clarke, B.C., Sederman, A.J., 2009, Validation of a discrete element model using magnetic resonance measurements, Particuology, 7:297-306.