Modeling of air and particles flow with revolving rotor hovering over the particles layer

Abstract The rotation effect by a revolving two-bladed rotor on hydrodynamics of gas and particles over the particles layer in an open chamber has been numerically studied using a three-dimensional transient Euler-Euler two-fluid model (TFM). The collisional interactions of particles are modeled by the kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF). The results highlight that the entrained particles are generated by a revolving rotor plume and the local free shear layer from the surface of the particle layer. The major cylindrical domain and the perimeter region exist with the change of hovering height of rotor. The air plume changes from the vertical flow in the cylindrical domain to the horizontal flow in the perimeter region along the surface of the particles layer. The entrained particles mass is increased with the decrease of hovering height. CFD predictions are also validated by experimental results of indoor air movement distribution measured in an office.