COUPLING OF DEM AND CFD

SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENT

25 March 2009
Christoph Kloss
Stefan Pirker

Discrete Element Method

25 March 2009
Kopenhagen

Christian-Doppler Laboratory
on Particulate Flow Modelling

Outline

Discrete Element Method

25 March 2009
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I.

The Discrete-Element-Method (DEM)

II.

DEM Simulation Examples

III.

DEM CFD Coupling (Model Synthesis)

IV.

Coupled DEM-CFD Simulation Examples

IV.

Conclusions and Future Prospects

Christian-Doppler Laboratory
on Particulate Flow Modelling

I.

I: The Discrete-Element-Method

Discrete Element Method

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Christian-Doppler Laboratory
on Particulate Flow Modelling

Principles of DEM

In DEM, every single particle ist tracked in Lagrangian

Frame. The force balance is integreated explicitely.
DEM manages information about each individual particle
(mass, velocity,...) and the forces acting on it. It can also
take into account the particles shape, rather than assuming
that all particles are spherical.
Normally, soft-sphere contact models where particles are
allowed to slightly overlap (<0.5%) are used to resolve
every single contact

Discrete Element Method

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Normal Force:
Hertzian model: F~ 3/2 k
Cundall & Strack, 1979: F~ k

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Principle of DEM

Contact force: Modelling of particles

as spring-damper systems

Forces that can be included:

Contact forces (soft-sphere approach):
particle-particle, particle-wall
Gravity
Fluid drag
Electrostatic and magnetic forces
Cohesion
Chemical bonds

Characteristics of DEM:
DEM is limited by CPU resources and low time-steps
Boundary conditions like velocity inlet or pressure outlet are
not available and have to be programmed manually
Stiff materials require short time-steps
Discrete Element Method
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DEM vs. Eulerian Granular Models

Eulerian Models

Calculation of conservation equations on a grid

Properties of indivual particles are smeared out (loss of
information
Closure relations are used (e.g. granular pressure and
temperature)
A yield criterion is used
Eulerian models are CPU-efficient

DEM

Discrete Element Method

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Closer to the physics by resolving the micro-scale

Contact laws are used
Efficient contact detection is important
CPU ressources limit applicability
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DEM Simulations: Practical Issues

Time-Step has to be a fraction (10%?) of the Rayleigh time:

Tr= r sqrt(/G)/(0.163 +0.8766)

(r: radius, density, G: shear modulus, poisson ratio)

Example (glass): r=4 mm, =2500 kg/m, G=26 GPa, =0.25 t=4.2e-7s

Simulation time varies with material properties

A maximum penetration of 0.5% of dp is allowed:

so that vmax t= 0.005 dp,min
Example: vmax=10 m/s, dp,min=1mm t=5e-7 s

Simulation time varies with dp,min and vmax

Discrete Element Method
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Christian-Doppler Laboratory
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DEM Simulations: Practical Issues

Simulation time increases when long-lasting particle

contacts come into play (contact search)

Practical numbers:

Cundall number (=particle time-steps / CPU second) of

~200.000 on desktop computers

Example: 100.000 particles , t=5e-6,

1 hour computation on one CPU=36 ms real-time

Discrete Element Method

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Particle limit of ~1 mio. on desktop computers

Christian-Doppler Laboratory
on Particulate Flow Modelling

II.

II: DEM Simulation Examples

Discrete Element Method

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I. DEM Simulation Example

Hopper Discharge

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II. DEM Simulation Example

Particle Charging / Bed Formation

distribution density function

0.4
simulation - fine
simulation - coarse
experiment - coarse
experiment - fine

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

x in m
Discrete Element Method
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III. DEM Simulation Example

Simulation of Bed Formation: API-Implementation

time-dependant boundaries
Particles are
kept in place
by controller

Partikel have
been removed
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III.

III: DEM-CFD Coupling

Discrete Element Method

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Parallel DEM-CFD Coupling

Principle

particle data

init

EDEM (C++)
including fluid drag
100 time-steps
t ~ 1e-5s

FLUENT (C)
1 time-step
t ~ 1e-3s

end

Discrete Element Method

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flow data

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Parallel DEM-CFD Coupling

Program FlowChart

start

EDEM calculates
100 time-steps,
and transfers particle
data to FLUENT

FLUENT calculates
1 time-step
FLUENT fetches EDEM
particle data
FLUENT searches cell
each particle is in

Parallel Processing is necessary to

deal with large-scale geometries!

FLUENT calculates
volume fraction and
momentum coupling
FLUENT transfers flow
data to EDEM

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IV.

IV: Coupled DEM-CFD Simulation

Examples

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I. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Proof of Concept - Acceleration of Single Particle

3

2.5

water flow, u = 3 m/s

v in m/s

glass particle
d = 4 mm
u0 = 0 m/s

1.5

1
EDEM-FLUENT Coupled Simulation
Analytical Solution

0.5

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0.02

0.04

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0.06

0.08
t in s

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

17

II. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Trajectory Segregation

flow vectors
in the midplane
umax=1.7 m/s
detail
detail

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II. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Trajectory Segregation

flow vectors
in the midplane
umax=1.7 m/s

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III. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Hopper Discharge With Standpipe

Hopper geometry
(all lengths in mm)

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III. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Hopper Discharge With Standpipe

particle velocity in m/s

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fluid velocity in m/s

21

III. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Hopper Discharge With Standpipe

fluid accelerates
particles
particles
accelerate fluid

z-momentum source on fluid in N/m

Discrete Element Method
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solids fraction

22

III. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Hopper Discharge With Standpipe | Experimental Validation

Pressure of the fluid phase
0

-0.5

simulation
measurement

-1

p in Pa

-1.5

-2

-2.5

-3

-3.5

-4

Discrete Element Method

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0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4
z in m

0.5

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0.6

0.7

0.8

23

Z1

IV. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Partial Fluidized Bed
side view

d in = 4 mm

bed

14 cm

7 cm
3.4 cm

top view
4 cm
30.5 cm

Discrete Element Method

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Christian-Doppler Laboratory
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Gas: 6 Nm/h = 0.02 kg/s, vIn=132m/s

24

Slide 24
Z1

Bohrung leicht schief:

Aussen 8mm vom Rand entfernt innen 6mm
(auf 6cm Wandstrke)
ZID; 23-02-2009

IV. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Partial Fluidized Bed

Solids fraction in the injection plane

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V. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Pneumatic Conveying

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V. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Pneumatic Conveying

particles

gas

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V. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Pneumatic Conveying

left middle right

particles

gas

Discrete Element Method

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V. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

y in m

Pneumatic Conveying

y in m

particle volume fraction at pos. 3 from coupled DEM-CFD simulation

0.14
left
0.12
right
middle
0.1
no magnus force
with magnus force
0.08

particle volume fraction at pos. 1 from coupled DEM-CFD simulation

0.14
left
0.12
right
middle
no magnus force
0.1
with magnus force
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0

0.5

1.5
2
volume fraction

2.5

3.5
-3

x 10

particle volume fraction at pos. 2 from coupled DEM-CFD simulation

0.14
left
0.12
right

0.06

middle
no magnus force
with magnus force

0.1

y in m

0.04
0.02

0.08
0.06
0.04

0.02

0.2

Discrete Element Method

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0.4

0.6
0.8
1
volume fraction

1.2

1.4

1.6
-3

x 10

Christian-Doppler Laboratory
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0.5

1
1.5
volume fraction

2.5
-3

x 10

29

V. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Pneumatic Conveying

particle velocity at pos. 2 from coupled DEM-CFD simulation

particle velocity at pos. 3 from coupled DEM-CFD simulation

0.14

0.14
left
right

0.1

y in m

0.12

middle
no magnus force
with magnus force

0.1

y in m

left
right
middle
no magnus force
with magnus force

0.12

0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02

0.08

3
4
5
particle velocity

particle velocity at pos. 1 from coupled DEM-CFD simulation

0.14
left
right
0.12
middle
no magnus force
0.1
with magnus force

0.06

y in m

0.04
0.02

0.08
0.06
0.04

Discrete Element Method

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4
6
particle velocity

Christian-Doppler Laboratory
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10

0.02
0

3
4
particle velocity

30

V. DEM-CFD Coupling Example

Pneumatic Conveying
volume fraction at pos. 3

particle velocity at pos. 3

0.12

0.12
measurement
simulation

0.1

0.1

0.08
y in m

measurement
simulation

0.06

0.04

0.08

y in m

0.02

0
0

0.06

4
5
6
particle velocity in m/s

10

volume fraction at pos. 2

0.12
measurement
simulation
0.1

0.04
y in m

0.08

0.02

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.2

Discrete Element Method

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0.4

0.6
0.8
volume fraction

1.2

Christian-Doppler Laboratory
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1.4
-3

x 10

0.2

0.4

0.6
0.8
volume fraction

1.2

1.4
-3

x 10

31

VI.

VI: Conclusions and Prospects

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DEM-CFD Coupling
Conclusion

We showed that the the synthesis of DEM and CFD leads to a very
versatile tool. Many possibilities of application, applicable for
different kind of regimes:

Discrete Element Method

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High solids fraction (fluidized bed, hopper discharge)

Low solids fraction (trajectory segregation during charging,
pneumatic conveying).
One way coupling fluid flow induced by particle motion
(hopper discharge, trajectory segregation during charging)
One way coupling particle motion induced by fluid flow
(pneumatic conveying)
Two way coupling strong interaction between particle motion
and fluid flow (fluidized bed)
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DEM-CFD Coupling
Prospects Model Synthesis

Simulation snapshot
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Solids volume fraction (cap at 3%)

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DEM-CFD Coupling

Prospects Model Synthesis (DEM-DPM Coupling)

DPM Source

DEM Sink

DEM Source

DPM Sink

EDEM
Discrete Element Method
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DEM-DPM
boundary
DPM-DEM
boundary

DPM Injection
FLUENT

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DEM-CFD Coupling
Prospects Model Synthesis

time-dependant boundaries
Particles are
kept in place
by controller

Partikel have
been removed
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DEM-CFD Coupling
Prospects

As DEM is very CPU intense, it is desired to extend our coupling

software to incorporate further models for granular media for cases
where good results can be achieved with a less CPU demanding
method (model synthesis). These could include FLUENTs DPM,
FLUENTs EuEuGran model, and further particulate models.
As the applicability of such a coupled method strongly depends on
computational power, the parallelization is a key issue.
For these reason, our in-house DEM-CFD coupling code is
Fully parallel (on both EDEM and FLUENT side)
Extendable to incorporate further models
Further efforts will be taken in order to make reduce the costly DEM
method to regions where the key physical phenomena occur.
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Thank you for your attention

Discrete Element Method

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