Four-dimensional simulation of particle transportation in simplified passageways system

Abstract

Transient simulation of three-dimensional distribution of particles in fluid flow is one of the hardest challenge in Computational Fluid Dynamics field. This three-dimensional spatial solver plus temporal transient dimension that makes the whole four-dimensional analysis is more complex when it is formulated on non-geometric boundaries. This solver development work combines all these elements with aim of achieving a complete solver for constrained fluid-particle flows such as in pipelines, fluid passages, buildings or even more complex biomechanics geometries. The fluid solver is based on Splitting method while the particles are modeled with Lagrangian Particle Equation of Motion. The finite difference discretization is solved with semi-implicit technique. Simplified respiratory airway is used as case study to represent complex bounded fluid-particle flow. Temporal dimension plus spatial three-dimensional air and aerosol particles distributions are presented in 5 time frames. The simulation shows how the air flow evolved and particles deposited through the passage. Apart from fluid and particle flow pattern analyses, this work has also significant effect on mechanical analysis for instance particle-boundary collision momentum and collision density, hazardous consequences such as blockage, corrosion, abrasion and reduction in fluid passage efficiency