Clustering and increased settling speed of oblate particles at finite Reynolds number

• We study the settling of rigid oblates in a quiescent fluid using interface-resolved direct numerical simulations. In particular, an immersed boundary method is used to account for the dispersed solid phase together with lubrication correction and collision models to account for short-range particle-particle interactions. We consider semi-dilute suspensions of oblate particles with aspect ratio AR = 1/3 and solid volume fractions (Phi = 0.5-10%. The solid-to-fluid density ratio R = 1.02 and the Galileo number (i.e. the ratio between buoyancy and viscous forces) based on the diameter of a sphere with equivalent volume Ga = 60. With this choice of parameters, an isolated oblate falls vertically with a steady wake with its broad side perpendicular to the gravity direction. At this Ga, the mean settling speed of spheres is a decreasing function of the volume Phi and is always smaller than the terminal velocity of the isolated particle, V-t. On the contrary, in dilute suspensions of oblate particles (with Phi <= 1 %), the mean settling speed is approximately 33 % larger than V-t. At higher concentrations, the mean settling speed decreases becoming smaller than the terminal velocity V-t between (Phi = 5 % and 10%. The increase of the mean settling speed is due to the formation of particle clusters that for Phi = 0.5-1 % appear as columnar-like structures. From the pair distribution function we observe that it is most probable to find particle pairs almost vertically aligned. However, the pair distribution function is non-negligible all around the reference particle indicating that there is a substantial amount of clustering at radial distances between 2 and 6c (with c the polar radius of the oblate). Above Phi = 5 %, the hindrance becomes the dominant effect, and the mean settling speed decreases below V-t. As the particle concentration increases, the mean particle orientation changes and the mean pitch angle (the angle between the particle axis of symmetry and gravity) increases from 23 degrees to 47 degrees . Finally, we increase Ga from 60 to 140 for the case with (Phi = 0.5 % and find that the mean settling speed (normalized by V-t) decreases by less than 1 % with respect to Ga = 60. However, the fluctuations of the settling speed around the mean are reduced and the probability of finding vertically aligned particle pairs increases.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

multiphase and particle-laden flows

particle/fluid flow

suspensions

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