Numerical simulation of dust lifting

This project focuses on numerical simulation of dense dust clouds by the Eulerian-Lagrangian method. Applications include a wide range of processes dependent on the behaviour of dense particle clouds or strands, e.g. gas cleaning with cyclones, pneumatic conveying, fluidized and rising beds, and the entrainment of dust deposits by a shock wave. The latter process is important for the formation of explosive dust clouds, and will be the main focus of this project. The Eulerian-Lagrangian simulation method, where individual particles are followed in the flow field, is more computer intensive than the traditional Eulerian-Eulerian method, where the particles are treated as a pseudo-fluid. However, Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations are becoming feasible, and fol lowing the individual particles moving under the influence of the forces acting on them makes it possible to include more effects in the simulations, such as particle-particle and particle-wall interaction and lift forces. The project aims to develop an e fficient Eulerian-Lagrangian simulation code accounting fully for particle-particle, particle-wall and fluid-particle interaction. The code will be used to simulate the lifting of dusts due to a passing pressure shock wave, and the predictions will be val idated by comparison with experiment. The research carries both scientific and commercial promise, since this method will almost certainly become more important in the time to come.