Granular temperature: Comparison of Magnetic Resonance measurements with Discrete Element Model simulations

The Discrete Element Model (DEM) is a very promising modelling strategy for two-phase granular systems. However, owing to a lack of experimental measurements, validation of numerical simulations of two-phase granular systems is still an important issue. In this study, a small two-dimensional gas-fluidized bed was simulated using a Discrete Element Model. The dimensions of the simulated bed were 44 × 10 × 120 mm and the fluidized particles had a diameter dp = 1.2 mm and density ρp = 1000 kg m− 3. The influence of different drag-force correlations was investigated. Preliminary numerical experiments were also performed to study the effects of (i) the coefficient of restitution and (ii) the modelled transverse thickness of the two-dimensional bed. Experimental measurements were made using Magnetic Resonance (MR), with the comparisons between DEM simulations and experimental measurements performed on the basis of the time-averaged velocity and granular temperature profiles of the particles. It was found that the DEM simulations of the time-averaged vertical velocity of the particles agreed well with the MR measurements. The drag-force correlation proposed by [R. Beetstra, M.A. van der Hoef and J.A.M. Kuipers, Drag force of intermediate Reynolds number flow past mono- and bidispersed arrays of spheres. AIChE Journal, 53, 489–501 (2007).] showed the best agreement with the experimental data. Fair agreement was found if the granular temperature calculated by the DEM simulations was compared with MR measurements. At lower fluidization velocities and closer to the distributor the DEM simulations under-predicted both the velocity and the granular temperature measurements using MR.