Computational study of dense granular flows in stirred reactors

In chemical engineering applications, reactors featuring rotating parts are common practice. As these rotating parts are present in order to enhance chemical reactions, it is essential to take them into account when performing predictive numerical simulations. This aspect can be particularly challenging, even more so when complex industrial geometries are to be treated. In this communication the rotating mesh numerical methodology of NEPTUNE_CFD V3.0 (an Eulerian n-fluid multiphase flow CFD code) is presented. The method is based on splitting the domain into static and rotating parts. The information between rotating and static parts is passed thanks to a non-conformal mesh matching technique. The methodology is first validated, both numerically and experimentally using the classical rotating drum case. The high degree of compaction of the flow is taken into account thanks to a frictional stress tensor. The method is then pushed further and used to investigate the hydrodynamics of dry granular beds in stirred vessels. The results show that the rotating mesh method can effectively treat such configurations, hence offering interesting insight concerning the dynamics of the flow.