Title: A coupled CFD-DEM model for simulating the rheology of particulate suspensions

Authors: Evan M. Smuts; David A. Deglon; Chris J. Meyer

Addresses: Minerals to Metals Initiative, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa ' Centre for Minerals Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa ' Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa

Abstract: This paper describes the development of a numerical model used to study the rheology of particulate suspensions. A combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the discrete element method (DEM) was used to model the fluid and particulate phases, respectively. Initially, CFD models of different rheometer geometries were tested for both a Newtonian and a non-Newtonian fluid. Once the single-phase model had been validated, a coupled model combining CFD and DEM was created. This coupled model is currently capable of modelling spherical particles in a suspending liquid. DLVO forces were included to account for the surface charge on particles. Different numerical parameters were evaluated for their suitability for this problem. These parameters were used to test the models response to changes in solids volume concentration and different particle surface charge. When compared to experimental data, the model produced similar trends.

Keywords: computational fluid dynamics; CFD; discrete element method; DEM; OpenFOAM; LIGGGHTS; particle fluid coupling; suspension; rheology; rheometer; surface charge; DLVO force; solids volume fraction.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2017.086340

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2017 Vol.17 No.5, pp.290 - 301

Received: 29 Apr 2015
Accepted: 28 Apr 2016
Published online: 04 Sep 2017 *

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