Eulerian and Mixture Multiphase

Models in ANSYS Fluent

Surya Deb
ANSYS Inc.
November 21, 2019

1
Agenda

• Brief Description of Multiphase Flows

• Types of Multiphase Flow Models in Fluent
• Overview of Governing Equations
• Eulerian Model Applications
• Summary

2
Brief Description of
Multiphase Flows
Definition of Multiphase Flow
• Any fluid flow consisting of more than one phase or component
• Components are not well mixed at the molecular level
• So flow will have phase separation well above the molecular level

4
Types of Multiphase Flows
Can be classified according to the state of different components or phases

Multiphase
Flows

Gas-Liquid Gas-Solid Liquid-Solid Particulate

Dispersed Particle Laden,

Slurry, Particles dominate
Bubbles/Droplets, Pneumatic,
Sedimentation the flow
Mixed/Transitional Fluidized Beds

Diverse and unique challenges are encountered in a Multiphase Flow

Almost every processing technology deals with Multiphase Flow
5
Examples involving Multiphase Flows
• Cavitation in Pumps and Turbines
• Mixing of fluids in a mixing tank
• Distribution of coal or petroleum
• Sedimentation of pellets in a riverbed
Simulation of wave
• Condensation of steam in a heat exchanger impact on offshore
platform
• Phase change material used for cooling Cavitation Bubbles

• And many more…

Fluid Catalytic Cracking Station

6
Challenges in Multiphase Flows

Span a wide range of length and time scales

Particle/bubble
Clusters/plume
Equipment
Turbulence

Often accompanied by other physics

Heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions,
heat transfer and phase change, size change
High speed flows, rotating machinery, film wall
interaction

7
Multiphase Flow Models
in ANSYS Fluent
Broad Classification of Multiphase Models

Separated Dispersed
flows flows

Euler-Euler Euler-Lagrange
VOF Model
Models Models

9
Established Gas-Liquid Models

Broad Range of Applications

ANSYS provides a comprehensive set of capabilities for
solving gas liquid flows. The scale of the problems can range
from micro channels to oceanic flows. ANSYS offers a full
range of validated and proven physics supported by global • Sloshing • Evaporation - condensation
experts •
• Slugging Solidification - melting
• Spans wide range of • Annular flow • Wave loading
• Length scales • Flow regime transition • Motion with 6 DOF
• Time scales • Hull simulation • Dam break
• Physics • Gear box cooling • Jet impingement
• Open channel flow • Tank filling • Oil Skimming
• Wave modeling • Cooling jacket filling • Wave slamming
• Surface tension • Capillary flow • Water wading
• 6 DOF
• Phase Change
• Flow structure interaction

10
Euler-Euler Models in Fluent
Euler-Euler
Models droplets, bubbles or particles dispersed in a continuous fluid phase. The
dispersed particles act as a continuum and are not tracked individually.

➢ Eulerian Model
Accurately models multiple separate, yet interacting, phases including liquids, gases or solids in any combination.

➢ Mixture Model
Simplifies the Eulerian model when load of the dispersed phase is small.

➢ Euler-Granular
Uses Eulerian approach to model dispersed particles in a continuous fluid. Uniform-sized particle motion is modeled
using averages, not individually.

➢ Population Balance Model

For systems where particle size distributions change due to fluid behavior like droplet break up, nucleation and
agglomeration.

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Governing Equations
Mixture Model
• The mixture model is designed for two or more phases (fluid or particulate).
• The phases are considered as interpenetrating continua.
• It solves for the mixture momentum equation with or without relative velocities.
• Applications include particle-laden flows with low loading, bubbly flows, sedimentation ,
and cyclone separators.
𝜕
ρm + ∇. ρm vm = 0
𝜕t

𝜕
ρm vm + ∇. ρm vm vm = −∇p + ∇. μm ∇vm + ∇v T m + ρm g + F − ∇. (σnk=1 αk ρk vdr,k vdr,k )
𝜕t

n
σnk=1 αk ρk vk
vm = ρm = ෍ αk ρk vdr,k = vk − vm
ρm k=1

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Mixture Model
• Fluent utilizes Algebraic Slip velocity for relative velocity between different phases
• It considers a local equilibrium between the phases exist at short spatial length
scales
• Drift and Relative Velocity are connected as follows:

n
αk ρk
vdr,p = vpq − ෍ ck vkq ck =
ρm
k=1

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Eulerian Model
• The Eulerian multiphase model in ANSYS Fluent allows for the modeling of
multiple separate yet interacting phases.
• A single pressure is shared by all phases.
• Momentum and continuity equations are solved for each phase.
n
𝜕
αq ρq + ∇. αq ρq vq = ෍ mሶ pq − mሶ qp + Sq
𝜕t
p=1

Interphase Force: Depends on friction,

𝜕 pressure, cohesion and other effects
α ρ v + ∇. αq ρq vq vq
𝜕t q q q
n

= −αq ∇p + ∇. τധq + αq ρq g + ෍ R pq + mሶ pq vpq − mሶ qp vqp + Fother

p=1

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Eulerian Model contd..
• Every phase has its own mass, momentum and energy conservation.

• Conservation equations of different phases are coupled via interfacial

terms, which are modeled.
• Closeness of these terms to reality determines accuracy of the model.

• Most of interfacial terms depend on particle size (i.e. diameter)

• Most dispersed flows are not mono-dispersed so knowledge of representative particle
diameter is essential.

• Most interfacial terms are non-linear so convergence of Euler model

may be slow.

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Population Balance Model

• What is size distribution modeling?

− Existence of dispersed secondary phase
(typically, multiphase)
− Secondary phase has a dynamic size distribution
• Why is size distribution modeling
important?
− Downstream processing Continuous Phase
− Product quality (Liquid, Gas) Dispersed Phase
(droplets, bubbles,
− Mass transfer and heat transfer depend on total solid particles)
interfacial surface area density of all particles
Modelling of Particle Size Distribution (PSD)
• Population Balance Methods in Fluent
− Class based
• The distribution is discretized into a finite vi+1
number of size intervals Ni x, t = න n v; x, t dv
• Allows direct computing the particle size vi

distribution (2-3 order magnitude size variation)

− Moments based
• Evolution of the lower-order moments of an ∝ N

unknown distribution. mk x, t = න n L; x, t Lk dL = ෍ wi Lki

0
• Lower-order moments are often sufficient for α=1

evaluating main properties

• Interfacial Area Concentration Transport Methods
Eulerian Granular Model
• Granular Flow Regimes

Elastic Regime Plastic Regime Viscous Regime

Stagnant Slow flow Rapid flow
Stress is strain Stress is strain Stress is strain
dependent independent dependent
Elasticity Solid mechanics Kinetic theory

• Granular model – based on kinetic theory, cannot model solid mechanics,

can model packed beds and transition between fluidized and packed bed
Characteristics of Granular Flow Model

• Model for granular materials dispersed in continuous fluid phase

• Calculates a solids pressure field for each solid phase.

– All phases share fluid pressure field.

• Calculate granular solids fluctuating energy for each solid phase.

• Obtains solid-phase shear and bulk viscosities from application of kinetic theory to
granular flows.

• Turbulence modeling is same as in non-granular Eulerian multiphase model.

Averaged Field Equations
► Continuity equation for the solid phase
𝜕 →
(α ρ ) + ∇ ⋅ (αs ρs us ) = mሶ fs Mass transfer
𝜕t s s
• Particle phase momentum equation
   n   
( s  s u s ) +   ( s  s u s u s ) = − s p f +    s +  ( R fs + m fs u fs ) + Fs
t s =1

Fluid pressure Solid stress tensor Phase interaction term


 s = − Ps I + 2 s  s S +  s (s −  s )  u s I
2
3

S= 1
2
(  T
u s + (u s ) ) Strain rate
Ps Solids Pressure
go Radial distribution function
s ,  s Solids bulk and shear viscosity
Solids Pressure
• Pressure exerted on the containing wall due to the presence of
particles

• Measure of the momentum transfer due to streaming motion of

the particles and collision

• FLUENT implementation for solids pressure:

► Gidaspow Ps = 2ρs θs (1 + ess )α2s g os

► Syamlal et al (1993) Ps = αs ρs θs (1 + 2(1 + ess )αs g os )

1
► Ma and Ahmadi (1990) Ps = αs ρs θs [(1 + 4αs g os ) + (1 + ess )(1 − ess + 2μfr )]
2

Granular Temperature
Eulerian Model
Applications
Modeling Oxygen Dissolution in Stirred Reactor

Importance of Bio-Reactor Modeling

Bioreactors are devices widely used for production of

antibiotics, enzymes, and amino acids; beverages and dairy
products; in wastewater treatment; and in biodiesel
production.

Mixing gas into liquid is required in fermentation operations

and a variety of oxygenation and hydrogenation processes.

Agitation increases the mass transfer between the gas and

liquid phase.

Gas-liquid reactions equipped with agitators are often operated

at high power input and large gas holdup, making these units
among the most difficult to design.

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Model Description
• A three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulation of a stirred airlift reactor has been carried
out using the Eulerian multiphase model.
• The two phases which are simulated are water and air.
• A 194 L reactor has been modeled with an impeller angular velocity of 250 RPM and gas
flow rate of 0.093 vvm (volume of liquid per minute).
• A Rushton impeller is used for simulation. The top surface has been modeled with a
degassing boundary condition.
• The universal drag law has been used with the drag correction term adjusted to improve
solution. For the poly-dispersed case, the population balance model is used for modeling
bubble size distribution.
• The quadrature method of moments (QMOM) model has been used with the aggregation
and breakage kernels. For modeling an oxygen dissolution process, Henry’s Law has been
used through the “Species Mass Transfer” option.

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Mono-dispersed Simulation

26
Mono-dispersed contd..

Water (Mixture-template) : Mixture of h2O <l> and O2<l>

Air (Mixture-template-air) : Mixture of gaseous O2 and N2

27
Mono-dispersed Results

Mass Fraction of dissolved Oxygen in Water Velocity Vectors - Water

28
Mono-dispersed Results contd..

Volume Fraction of Air Volume Fraction of Air - reduced

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Poly-dispersed Simulation

Secondary Phase treated with PBM

Using QMOM PBM technique

Total Moments used = 6

No PBM mass transfer (i.e no Nucleation)

Aggregation/Breakage Kernel used

Minimum Diameter Size : 0.0005 m

Maximum Diameter Size : 0.005 m

Kv = Pi/6 for spherical particles

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Poly-dispersed Results

Volume Fraction of Air 3rd Moment of Air

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Poly-dispersed Results contd..
m3=m2*d=m1*d^2=m0*d^3
with m0 the O order moment of the particle size distribution
and is related to the number density of particles
per spatial volume.
σ 𝑁𝑖 𝐿3𝑖
𝑑32 =
Sauter Mean Diameter σ 𝑁𝑖 𝐿2𝑖

Diameter distribution

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Degassing Boundary

Free Surface

Typical Bubble Column Geometry

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Degassing BC contd..
• The free surface at the top of the column can be modelled implicitly by including the freeboard
region free surface on top of the column and specifying pressure outlet boundary condition

• The free surface at the top of the column can also be approximated by the use of a degassing
boundary condition
➢ The absence of large gradients makes the numerics more stable in this case
➢ Degassing boundary condition is recommended for Bubble column simulations

• When the degassing boundary condition is specified for an outlet top face, the continuous liquid
phase sees the boundary as a free-slip wall and does not leave the domain.

• The dispersed gas phase sees the boundary as an outlet. The outlet pressure is not specified.
Instead, ANSYS Fluent automatically specifies a mass sink for the dispersed gas phase in the cells
adjacent to the degassing outlet.

• The mass sink is calculated using the flux normal to the boundary at the cell center.

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Main Advantages of Degassing BC
• The main advantage of degassing boundary condition is reduced simulation time. It provides
faster turnarounds when compared with conventional approaches where the top air volume
is also modelled.

• The degassing boundary condition is available only for liquid-gas two-phase flow using the
Eulerian model. The primary phase must be liquid. In order for the gas to escape from the
degassing boundary, gravity must be switched on in the model.

• The degassing boundary condition is only recommended for modeling situations like bubble
columns without the freeboard region. Regarding post-processing, there is no normal
velocity or flux for either phase at the degassing boundary, since the gas escape is modeled
by a mass sink in the neighboring cells.

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Fate of DPM Tracks at Degassing BC
The fate of particle tracks at a degassing boundary is the same as that on a
symmetry boundary type i.e. they reflect from the boundary faces.

Schematic Liquid Velocity Vectors Gas Volume Fraction DPM tracks

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Euler-Granular Model
Lunar Shuttle Launch Fluidization

When a granular material becomes dispersed in a background “carrier” fluid, the

dispersed phase, even though it may be a solid material, becomes suspended in
the carrier fluid, moving and flowing in a manner similar to a fluid. This process
is known as “fluidization”.

A slightly less common example of fluidization is depicted here: the fluidization

of dust on the moon due to the launch of a lunar shuttle.

37
Launch Fluidization contd..
For this lunar launch example
• Air is specified as the primary phase, and dust as the secondary phase.

• The secondary (dispersed) phase can be specified as “granular”, for which a

diameter and other granular properties can be specified (e.g., granular
viscosity, granular temperature, packing limit, etc.).

• The granular inputs are empirical and are calibrated based on the user’s
knowledge of the granular material’s behavior

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Launch Fluidization contd.. Mesh Initially Stationary causing
the fluidized dust to rise high

The momentum of the air jet

causes the dust to propagate
outward and upward,
forming a ring-like front of dust

In reality, the high-speed jet is used

to launch the shuttle, causing it to
rise in the opposite direction, due
to conservation of momentum

In the second half of the video, the

shuttle is allowed to move via
Fluent’s moving/deforming mesh
model. This reduces the momentum
of air on the dust

This result is visible in that the

dust does not rise as high into
the domain

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Mass fraction calculation in a multiphase simulation
Mass fraction of phase-i can be evaluated using the following expression via custom-field-function:

mass fraction of phase-i = (phase-i volume fraction)*(phase-i density)/(mixture-density) ... Eq. (1)

where mixture-density is another predefined custom-field-function as

mixture-density = sum of [(phase-i volume fraction)*(phase-i density)] for all the phases "i" in the domain

For example, in a two-phase simulation:

mixture-density = (phase-1 volume fraction * phase-1 density) + (phase-2 volume fraction * phase-2 density)
mass fraction of phase-2 = (phase-2 volume fraction)*(phase-2 density)/(mixture-density)

To evaluate the average mass fraction of a phase across a flow boundary, it can be obtained using:
mass fraction of phase-i = (mass flow rate of phase-i/mixture mass flow rate) ... Eq. (2)

At a flow boundary, the mass-weighted average of the mass fraction values obtained using Eq.(1) will be nearly
equal to that obtained using Eq.(2) if the interphase slip is negligible.

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Summary
Choosing a Multiphase Model
General Guidelines
Euler-Euler

Eulerian Mixture Population Balance (PBM) VOF

Bubbly/Droplet with high particle
loading (>10%), Pneumatic transport
with secondary phase as Granular,
Fluidized Beds, Sedimentation
Bubbly/Droplet with significantly low Bubble Columns, Stirred Mixing tank with
relative phase velocities and low importance given to bubble/droplet
breakup and agglomeration, Crystallization
particle loading, Pneumatic phenomenon where Nucleation is
transport, slurry flows important
Stratified flows with a free surface,
Slug flows in Pipes/chambers,
Modeling immiscible fluids with
sharp interface

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Thank You