Application of the discrete element method (DEM) to particle laden multi-phase flows

Abstract

The discrete element method (DEM) coupled with methods for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a very capable instrument to capture particle-laden multi-phase flows. While often the flow around individual particles is not resolved on the CFD-side particle interaction is captured in detail. More recently resolved flow simulations have gained in popularity which can be also based on the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). By coupling the latter with the DEM particle/fluid systems can even be studied in more detail. A brief review of both approaches is performed and possible applications are discussed.