Title: Finite element prediction and validation of multi-size particulate flow in rotating channels

Authors: Pankaj K. Gupta, Krishnan V. Pagalthivarthi

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, MVGR College of Engineering, Chintalavalasa, Vizianagaram 535005, India. ' GIW Industries, Inc., Hydraulics Laboratory, 5000 Wrightsboro Road, Grovetown, GA 30813–9750, USA

Abstract: Galerkin finite element methodology (with Q1Q0 elements) is used to quantify the effect of Coriolis force on multi-size slurry flow through rotating channels. A rotation- and concentration-modified κ–ε model is used for turbulence. The weak forms of the volume-averaged governing equations are solved using a multi-frontal solver combined with UMFPACK 4.4. For a rotation rate yielding a Coriolis acceleration equal to the gravitational acceleration, the trends of predicted results compare very well with published experimental results for a stationary horizontal channel (solids concentration of 12% by volume for six size classes with particle sizes in the range of 40–750 microns).

Keywords: multi-size particulate flow; Galerkin finite element method; GFEM; FEM; rotating channels; concentration profiles; mixture velocity profiles; turbulence.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2007.013886

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2007 Vol.7 No.5, pp.247 - 260

Published online: 01 Jun 2007 *

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