Tutorial 21.

Using the Eulerian Multiphase Model for

Granular Flow

Introduction
Mixing tanks are used to maintain solid particles or droplets of heavy fluids in suspension.
Mixing may be required to enhance reaction during chemical processing or to prevent
sedimentation. In this tutorial, you will use the Eulerian multiphase model to solve the
particle suspension problem. The Eulerian multiphase model solves momentum equations
for each of the phases, which are allowed to mix in any proportion.
This tutorial demonstrates how to do the following:

Use the granular Eulerian multiphase model.

Specify fixed velocities with a user-defined function (UDF) to simulate an impeller.
Set boundary conditions for internal flow.
Calculate a solution using the pressure-based solver.
Solve a time-accurate transient problem.

Prerequisites
This tutorial is written with the assumption that you have completed Tutorial 1, and
that you are familiar with the ANSYS FLUENT navigation pane and menu structure.
Some steps in the setup and solution procedure will not be shown explicitly.

Problem Description
The problem involves the transient startup of an impeller-driven mixing tank. The
primary phase is water, while the secondary phase consists of sand particles with a 111
micron diameter. The sand is initially settled at the bottom of the tank, to a level just
above the impeller. A schematic of the mixing tank and the initial sand position is shown
in Figure 21.1. The domain is modeled as 2D axisymmetric.
The fixed-values option will be used to simulate the impeller. Experimental data are used
to represent the time-averaged velocity and turbulence values at the impeller location.
This approach avoids the need to model the impeller itself. These experimental data are
provided in a user-defined function.

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.4446 m

.016 m

water

.4446 m

impeller
settled
sand .1728 m
.0864 m
bed .116 m

Figure 21.1: Problem Specification

Setup and Solution

Preparation
1. Download eulerian_multiphase_granular.zip from the User Services Center to
your working folder (as described in Tutorial 1).

2. Unzip eulerian_multiphase_granular.zip.
The files, mixtank.msh and fix.c can be found in the eulerian multiphase granular
folder created after unzipping the file.

3. Use FLUENT Launcher to start the 2D version of ANSYS FLUENT.

For more information about FLUENT Launcher, see Section 1.1.2 in the separate
Users Guide.

Note: The Display Options are enabled by default. Therefore, after you read in the mesh,
it will be displayed in the embedded graphics window.

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Step 1: Mesh
1. Read the mesh file mixtank.msh.
File Read Mesh...
A warning message will be displayed twice in the console. You need not take any
action at this point, as the issue will be rectified when you define the solver settings
in Step 2.

Step 2: General Settings

General

1. Check the mesh.

General Check
ANSYS FLUENT will perform various checks on the mesh and report the progress
in the console. Ensure hat the reported minimum volume is a positive number.

2. Examine the mesh (Figure 21.2).

Figure 21.2: Mesh Display

Extra: You can use the right mouse button to check which zone number corresponds
to each boundary. If you click the right mouse button on one of the boundaries
in the graphics window, its zone number, name, and type will be printed in the
console. This feature is especially useful when you have several zones of the
same type and you want to distinguish between them quickly.

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3. Modify the mesh colors.

General Display...
(a) Click the Colors... button to open the Mesh Colors dialog box.
You can control the colors used to draw meshes by using the options available
in the Mesh Colors dialog box.

i. Select Color by ID in the Options list.

This will assign a different color to each zone in the domain, rather than
to each type of zone.
ii. Close the Mesh Colors dialog box.
(b) Click Display and close the Mesh Display dialog box.
The graphics display will be updated to show the mesh.

Figure 21.3: Mesh Display Using the Color by ID Option

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4. Modify the view of the mesh display to show the full tank upright.
Graphics and Animations Views...

(a) Select axis from the Mirror Planes selection list and click Apply.
The mesh display will be updated to show both sides of the tank.
(b) Click Auto Scale.
This option is used to scale and center the current display without changing
its orientation (Figure 21.4).

Figure 21.4: Mesh Display of the Tank, Mirrored and Scaled

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(c) Click the Camera... button to open the Camera Parameters dialog box.

i. Drag the indicator of the dial with the left mouse button in the counter-
clockwise direction until the upright view is displayed (Figure 21.5).
ii. Click Apply and close the Camera Parameters dialog box.
(d) Close the Views dialog box.
Note: While modifying the view, you may accidentally lose the view of the geometry
in the display. You can easily revert to the default (front) view by clicking the
Default button in the Views dialog box.

Figure 21.5: Mesh Display of the Upright Tank

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5. Specify a transient, axisymmetric model.

General

(a) Retain the default Pressure-Based solver.

The pressure-based solver must be used for multiphase calculations.
(b) Select Transient in the Time list.
(c) Select Axisymmetric in the 2D Space list.

6. Set the gravitational acceleration.

(a) Enable Gravity.
(b) Enter -9.81 m/s2 for the Gravitational Acceleration in the X direction.

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Step 3: Models
Models

1. Enable the Eulerian multiphase model.

Models Multiphase Edit...

(a) Select Eulerian in the Model list.

(b) Retain the default setting of 2 for Number of Eulerian Phases.
(c) Click OK to close the Multiphase Model dialog box.

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2. Enable the k- turbulence model with standard wall functions.

Models Viscous Edit...

(a) Select k-epsilon (2 eqn) in the Model list.

(b) Retain the selection of Standard Wall Functions in the Near-Wall Treatment list.
This problem does not require a particularly fine mesh hence, standard wall
functions can be used.
(c) Select Dispersed in the k-epsilon Multiphase Model list.
The dispersed turbulence model is applicable in this case because there is clearly
one primary continuous phase and the material density ratio of the phases
is approximately 2.5. Furthermore, the Stokes number is much less than 1.
Therefore, the kinetic energy of the particle will not differ significantly from
that of the liquid.
(d) Click OK to close the Viscous Model dialog box.

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Step 4: Materials
Materials
In this step, you will add liquid water to the list of fluid materials by copying it from the
ANSYS FLUENT materials database and create a new material called sand.

1. Copy liquid water from the ANSYS FLUENT materials database so that it can be
used for the primary phase.
Materials Fluid Create/Edit...

(a) Click the FLUENT Database... button to open the FLUENT Database Materials
dialog box.

(b) Select water-liquid (h2o<l>) from the FLUENT Fluid Materials selection list.
Scroll down the FLUENT Fluid Materials list to locate water-liquid (h2o<l>).
(c) Click Copy to copy the information for liquid water to your model.
(d) Close the FLUENT Database Materials dialog box.

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2. Create a new material called sand.

(a) Enter sand for Name and delete the entry in the Chemical Formula field.
(b) Enter 2500 kg/m3 for Density in the Properties group box.
(c) Click Change/Create.
A Question dialog box will open, asking if you want to overwrite water-liquid.
(d) Click No in the Question dialog box to retain water-liquid and add the new
material (sand) to the list.
The Create/Edit Materials dialog box will be updated to show the new material,
sand, in the FLUENT Fluid Materials drop-down list.

3. Close the Create/Edit Materials dialog box.

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Step 5: Phases
Phases

1. Specify water (water-liquid) as the primary phase.

Phases phase-1 Edit...

(a) Enter water for Name.

(b) Select water-liquid from the Phase Material drop-down list.
(c) Click OK to close the Primary Phase dialog box.

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2. Specify sand (sand) as the secondary phase.

Phases phase-2 Edit...

(a) Enter sand for Name.

(b) Select sand from the Phase Material drop-down list.
(c) Enable Granular.
(d) Retain the selection of Phase Property in the Granular Temperature Model list.
(e) Enter 0.000111 m for Diameter.
(f) Select syamlal-obrien from the Granular Viscosity drop-down list.
(g) Select lun-et-al from the Granular Bulk Viscosity drop-down list.
(h) Enter 0.6 for Packing Limit.
Scroll down in the Properties group box to locate Packing Limit.
(i) Click OK to close the Secondary Phase dialog box.

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3. Specify the drag law to be used for computing the interphase momentum transfer.
Phases Interaction...

(a) Select gidaspow from the Drag Coefficient drop-down list.

(b) Click OK to close the Phase Interaction dialog box.

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Step 6: User-Defined Function (UDF)

A UDF is used to specify the fixed velocities that simulate the impeller. The values of
the time-averaged impeller velocity components and turbulence quantities are based on
experimental measurement. The variation of these values may be expressed as a function
of radius, and imposed as polynomials according to:

variable = A1 + A2 r + A3 r2 + A4 r3 + . . .

The order of polynomial to be used depends on the behavior of the function being fitted.
For this tutorial, the polynomial coefficients shown in Table 21.1 are provided in the UDF
fix.c.

Variable A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6
u velocity -7.1357e-2 54.304 -3.1345e+3 4.5578e+4 -1.966e+5
v velocity 3.1131e-2 -10.313 9.5558e+2 -2.0051e+4 1.186e+5
kinetic energy 2.2723e-2 6.7989 -424.18 9.4615e+3 -7.725e+4 1.8410e+5
dissipation -6.5819e-2 88.845 -5.3731e+3 1.1643e+5 -9.120e+5 1.9567e+6

Table 21.1: Impeller Profile Specifications

For more informtion about setting up a UDF using the DEFINE PROFILE macro, refer
to the separate UDF Manual . Though this macro is usually used to specify a profile
condition on a boundary face zone, it is used in fix.c to specify the condition in a fluid
cell zone. Hence, the arguments of the macro have been changed accordingly.

1. Interpret the UDF source file fix.c.

Define User-Defined Functions Interpreted...

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(a) Enter fix.c for Source File Name.

If the UDF source file is not in your working folder, you must enter the entire
folder path for Source File Name instead of just entering the file name. Alterna-
tively, click Browse... and select fix.c in the eulerian multiphase granular
folder that was created after you unzipped the original file.
(b) Enable Display Assembly Listing.
The Display Assembly Listing option displays the assembly language code in the
console as the function compiles.
(c) Click Interpret to interpret the UDF.
(d) Close the Interpreted UDFs dialog box.
Note: The name and contents of the UDF are stored in the case file when
you save the case file.

Step 7: Cell Zone Conditions

Cell Zone Conditions

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For this problem, you do not have to specify any conditions for outer boundaries. Within
the domain, there are three fluid zones, representing the impeller region, the region where
the sand is initially located, and the rest of the tank. There are no conditions to be specified
in the latter two zones, so you need to set conditions only in the zone representing the
impeller.

1. Set the boundary conditions for the fluid zone representing the impeller (fix-zone)
for the primary phase.
Cell Zone Conditions fix-zone
You will specify the conditions for water and sand separately using the UDF. The
default conditions for the mixture (i.e., conditions that apply to all phases) are
acceptable.
(a) Select water from the Phase drop-down list.
(b) Click the Edit... button to open the Fluid dialog box.

i. Enable Fixed Values.

The Fluid dialog box will expand to show the related inputs.
ii. Click the Fixed Values tab and set the following fixed values:
Parameter Value
Axial Velocity udf fixed u
Radial Velocity udf fixed v
Turbulence Kinetic Energy udf fixed ke
Turbulence Dissipation Rate udf fixed diss
(c) Click OK to close the Fluid dialog box.

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2. Set the boundary conditions for the fluid zone representing the impeller (fix-zone)
for the secondary phase.
Cell Zone Conditions fix-zone
(a) Select sand from the Phase drop-down list.
(b) Click the Edit... button to open the Fluid dialog box.

i. Enable Fixed Values.

The Fluid dialog box will expand to show the related inputs.
ii. Click the Fixed Values tab and set the following fixed values:
Parameter Value
Axial Velocity udf fixed u
Radial Velocity udf fixed v
(c) Click OK to close the Fluid dialog box.

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Step 8: Solution
1. Set the under-relaxation factors.
Solution Controls
(a) Enter 0.5 for Pressure, 0.2 for Momentum, and 0.8 for Turbulent Viscosity.

Hint: Scroll down in the Under-Relaxation Factors group box to locate Turbu-
lent Viscosity.
2. Enable the plotting of residuals during the calculation.
Monitors Residuals Edit...

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(a) Ensure that the Plot is enabled in the Options group box.
(b) Click OK to close the Residual Monitors dialog box.

3. Initialize the solution using the default initial values.

Solution Initialization

(a) Retain the default initial values and click Initialize.

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4. Patch the initial sand bed configuration.

Solution Initialization Patch...

(a) Select sand from the Phase drop-down list.

(b) Select Volume Fraction from the Variable selection list.
(c) Enter 0.56 for Value.
(d) Select initial-sand from the Zones to Patch selection list.
(e) Click Patch and close the Patch dialog box.

5. Save the initial case and data files (mixtank.cas.gz and mixtank.dat.gz).
File Write Case & Data...
The problem statement is now complete. As a precaution, you should review the
impeller velocity fixes and sand bed patch after running the calculation for a single
time step. Since you are using a UDF for the velocity profiles, perform one time
step in order for the profiles to be calculated and available for viewing.

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6. Set the time stepping parameters and run the calculation for 0.005 seconds.
Run Calculation
(a) Enter 0.005 for Time Step Size.
(b) Enter 1 for Number of Time Steps.

(c) Enter 40 for Max Iterations/Time Step.

(d) Click Calculate.
7. Examine the initial velocities and sand volume fraction.
In order to display the initial fixed velocities in the fluid zone (fix-zone), you need
to create a surface for this zone.
(a) Create a surface for fix-zone.
Surface Zone...

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i. Select fix-zone from the Zone selection list and click Create.
The default name is the same as the zone name. ANSYS FLUENT will
automatically assign the default name to the new surface when it is created.
The new surface will be added to the Surfaces selection list in the Zone
Surface dialog box.
ii. Close the Zone Surface dialog box.
(b) Display the initial impeller velocities for water (Figure 21.6).
Graphics and Animations Vectors Set Up...

i. Retain the selection of Velocity from the Vectors of drop-down list.

ii. Retain the selection of water from the Phase drop-down list below the
Vectors of drop-down list.
iii. Retain the selection of Velocity... and Velocity Magnitude from the Color
by drop-down lists.
iv. Retain the selection of water from the Phase drop-down list below the
Color by drop-down lists.

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v. Select fix-zone from the Surfaces selection list and click Display.
ANSYS FLUENT will display the water velocity vectors fixes at the impeller
location, as shown in Figure 21.6.

Figure 21.6: Initial Impeller Velocities for Water

(c) Display the initial impeller velocities for sand (Figure 21.7).
Graphics and Animations Vectors Set Up...
i. Select sand from the Phase drop-down lists (below the Vectors of drop-
down list and Color by drop-down lists).
ii. Click Display (Figure 21.7) and close the Vectors dialog box.

Figure 21.7: Initial Impeller Velocities for Sand

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(d) Display contours of sand volume fraction (Figure 21.8).

Graphics and Animations Contours Set Up...

i. Enable Filled in the Options group box.

ii. Select sand from the Phase drop-down list.
iii. Select Phases... and Volume fraction from the Contours of drop-down lists.
iv. Click Display and close the Contours dialog box.
ANSYS FLUENT will display the initial location of the settled sand bed, as
shown in Figure 21.8.

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Figure 21.8: Initial Settled Sand Bed

8. Run the calculation for 1 second.

Run Calculation
(a) Enter 199 for Number of Time Steps.
(b) Click Calculate.
After a total of 200 time steps have been computed (1 second of operation),
you will review the results before continuing.

9. Save the case and data files (mixtank1.cas.gz and mixtank1.dat.gz).

File Write Case & Data...

10. Examine the results of the calculation after 1 second.

(a) Display the velocity vectors for water in the whole tank (Figure 21.9).
Graphics and Animations Vectors Set Up...
i. Select water from the Phase drop-down lists (below the Vectors of drop-
down list and Color by drop-down lists).
ii. Deselect fix-zone from the Surfaces selection list.
iii. Click Display.
Figure 21.9 shows the water velocity vectors after 1 second of operation. The
circulation is confined to the region near the impeller, and has not yet had
time to develop in the upper portions of the tank.

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Figure 21.9: Water Velocity Vectors after 1 s

(b) Display the velocity vectors for the sand (Figure 21.10).
Graphics and Animations Vectors Set Up...
i. Select sand from the Phase drop-down lists (below the Vectors of drop-
down list and Color by drop-down lists).
ii. Click Display and close the Vectors dialog box.

Figure 21.10: Sand Velocity Vectors after 1 s

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Figure 21.10 shows the sand velocity vectors after 1 second of operation. The
circulation of sand around the impeller is significant, but note that no sand
vectors are plotted in the upper part of the tank, where the sand is not yet
present.
(c) Display contours of sand volume fraction (Figure 21.11).
Graphics and Animations Contours Set Up...
i. Retain the selection of Phases... and Volume fraction from the Contours of
drop-down lists.
ii. Retain the selection of sand from the Phase drop-down list.
iii. Click Display and close the Contours dialog box.
Notice that the action of the impeller draws clear fluid from above the originally
settled bed and mixes it into the sand. To compensate, the sand bed is lifted
up slightly. The maximum sand volume fraction has decreased as a result of
the mixing of water and sand.

Figure 21.11: Contours of Sand Volume Fraction after 1 s

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11. Continue the calculation for another 19 seconds.

Run Calculation
(a) Set the Time Step Size to 0.01.
The initial calculation was performed with a very small time step size to sta-
bilize the solution. After the initial calculation, you can increase the time step
to speed up the calculation.
(b) Enter 1900 for Number of Time Steps.
(c) Click Calculate.
The transient calculation will continue upto 20 seconds.

12. Save the case and data files (mixtank20.cas.gz and mixtank20.dat.gz).
File Write Case & Data...

Step 9: Postprocessing
You will now examine the progress of the sand and water in the mixing tank after a total
of 20 seconds. The mixing tank has nearly, but not quite, reached a steady flow solution.

1. Display the velocity vectors for water (Figure 21.12).

Graphics and Animations Vectors Set Up...
Figure 21.12 shows the water velocity vectors after 20 seconds of operation. The
circulation of water is now very strong in the lower portion of the tank, though
modest near the top.

Figure 21.12: Water Velocity Vectors after 20 s

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2. Display the velocity vectors for sand (Figure 21.13).

Graphics and Animations Vectors Set Up...
Figure 21.13 shows the sand velocity vectors after 20 seconds of operation. The sand
has now been suspended much higher within the mixing tank, but does not reach the
upper region of the tank. The water velocity in that region is not sufficient to
overcome the gravity force on the sand particles.

Figure 21.13: Sand Velocity Vectors after 20 s

3. Display contours of sand volume fraction (Figure 21.14).

Graphics and Animations Contours Set Up...

Figure 21.14: Contours of Sand Volume Fraction after 20 s

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4. Display filled contours of static pressure for the mixture (Figure 21.15).
Graphics and Animations Contours Set Up...
(a) Select mixture from the Phase drop-down list.
(b) Select Pressure... and Static Pressure from the Contours of drop-down lists.
(c) Click Display and close the Contours dialog box.
Figure 21.15 shows the pressure distribution after 20 seconds of operation.
The pressure field represents the hydrostatic pressure except for some slight
deviations due to the flow of the impeller near the bottom of the tank.

Figure 21.15: Contours of Pressure after 20 s

Summary
This tutorial demonstrated how to set up and solve a granular multiphase problem us-
ing the Eulerian multiphase model. The problem involved the 2D modeling of particle
suspension in a mixing tank and postprocessing showed the near-steady-state behavior
of the sand in the mixing tank, under the assumptions made.

Further Improvements
This tutorial guides you through the steps to reach an initial solution. You may be able
to obtain a more accurate solution by using an appropriate higher-order discretization
scheme and by adapting the mesh. Mesh adaption can also ensure that the solution is
independent of the mesh. These steps are demonstrated in Tutorial 1.

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