Comparison of the influence of drag models in CFD simulation of particle mixing and segregation in a rotating cylinder

Abstract

CFD modelling was used to simulate particle segregation in a transverse plane of a rotating cylinder under different particle-particle drag models. The Eulerian method was used to model the dense particulate phases in the system. Two types of particles, with different density and size, were used in the study. The simulations were performed under the rolling mode since this mode is believed to give good particle-particle mixing. The drag models of Schiller-Naumann, Morsi-Alexander and Syamlal-O’Brien Symmetric were applied in the modelling of particle-particle drag and results were compared with experiments. All the drag models were able to model the particle segregation. The Schiller-Naumann model and the Morsi-Alexander model showed good agreement with the experimental results while the Syamlal-O’Brien-Symmetric model had some deviations.