Euler–Euler multiphase models for chemical reactors

Abstract

Accurate modeling of multiphase industrial chemical reactors requires mathematically well-posed models that capture the essential physical phenomena of the flow regime under consideration. We identify key limitations of widely used multiphase Eulerian models, examine their root cause to the light of recent advancements, and indicate a strategy to formulate such models to be more accurate, robust, and less reliant on calibration, based on: (1) well-posed formulations consistent with kinetic equations, ensuring grid-converged solutions free from spurious artifacts; (2) turbulence closures that accurately model energy transfer and cluster-induced turbulence; (3) pseudoturbulence models, crucial for predicting energy and species transport; and (4) realizable moment methods that robustly incorporate polydispersity, polycelerity, turbulent mixing, and, when flows are very dilute, nonequilibrium effects. Areas where further research and improvement are needed are also identified.